Title: An act relating to regional centers under the authority of certain public facilities districts.

Brief Description: Authorizing additional sales tax authority for public facilities districts.

Sponsors: Representatives Morrell, McDonald and Chase.

Brief History:

Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade: 2/15/05, 2/22/05 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURE & TRADE

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 17 members: Representatives Linville, Chair; Pettigrew, Vice Chair; Blake, Buri, Chase, Clibborn, Dunn, Grant, Haler, Kenney, Kilmer, McCoy, Morrell, Newhouse, Quall, P. Sullivan and Wallace.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 5 members: Representatives Kristiansen, Ranking Minority Member; Condotta, Holmquist, Kretz and Strow.

Staff: Tracey Taylor (786-7196).

Background:

A public facilities district (PFD) may be created upon adoption of a resolution by the county legislative authority in which the proposed district is located. A PFD is a municipal corporation, and independent taxing authority within the meaning of Article VII, Section 1 of the State Constitution, and a taxing district within the meaning of Article VII, Section 2 of the State Constitution. A PFD is a body corporate and possesses all the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes or specially conferred by statute.

A PFD is authorized to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair, and operate sports facilities, entertainment facilities, convention facilities or regional centers, together with contiguous parking facilities. In addition to existing authorities, public facilities districts formed after January 1, 2000, may acquire, construct, maintain, and operate recreation facilities other than ski areas.

The districts formed prior to 2002 may impose a 0.033 percent sales tax that is deducted from the state sales tax and is not an increase to taxpayers. A PFD also may levy a 0.2 percent sales tax and a 2 percent lodging tax if approved by a majority of voters in the district.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

A PFD created by a city, town, or county in a county after July 1, 2006, but before June 30, 2008, may impose a sales and use tax for the construction, improvement or rehabilitation of a regional center to be used for community events, and artistic, musical, theatrical, or other cultural exhibitions, presentations, or performances and having 2,000 or fewer permanent seats. The construction of a new regional center or the improvement or rehabilitation of an existing regional center must begin prior to January 1, 2009 and the PFD must be located in a county with a population in excess of 700,000.

The public facilities sales and use tax may not exceed 0.033 percent and cannot be imposed prior to September 1, 2006. This public facilities sales and use tax must be deducted from the amount of sales and use tax due to the Department of Revenue. This sales and use tax expires on the earlier of: (a) the date when the bonds issued for the construction of the regional center and related parking garage are retired; (b) after 20 years; or (c) when the cumulative total of taxes collected has exceeded $18 million.

The moneys collected from the public facilities sales and use tax must be used for the construction, improvement or rehabilitation of a regional center and be matched with private or other public sources equal to 33 percent of the moneys collected by the public facilities sales and use tax. The public source cannot include nonvoter approved taxes authorized by the public facilities district.   

If both the city's or town's public facilities district and the county's public facilities district impose a sales and use tax for a regional center, then the city's or town's public facilities district tax shall be credited against the county sales and use tax.

If a county PFD in a county with a population of one million or more has imposed a sales and use tax for a baseball stadium or if a county created public stadium authority has imposed a sales and use tax to develop a stadium and exhibition center, then it cannot also impose the sales and use tax for the construction, improvement or rehabilitation of a regional center.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute caps the tax for the regional center at a total of $18 million. The number of years the tax may be imposed is reduced from 25 years to 20 years.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: (Original bill) This bill allows the City of Puyallup and Pierce College to jointly create a performing arts center. Currently, east Pierce County lacks a venue for the arts. Under the current law, the City of Puyallup could go ahead and build a center; however, it could not collaborate with Pierce College. This bill will allow the City of Puyallup and Pierce College to create a single, superior facility as opposed to two less adequate facilities. In addition to the benefit to the community and state, an arts venue creates tax revenue and jobs will be generated. Finally, the performing arts center will enrich the education of the students at Pierce College.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: (Original bill) Representative Morrell, prime sponsor; Steve Wall, Pierce College; and Jim Bacon, City of Puyallup.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.