Title: An act relating to increasing the maximum term of rural, island, and intercounty rural district general obligation bonds.

Brief Description: Increasing the term of nonvoter approved rural library district general obligation bonds.

Sponsors: Representatives Williams, DeBolt, Hunt and Moeller.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/08/06, 96-0.

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 3/22/05.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Staff: Cindy Fazio (786-7405)

Background: Current law provides for the establishment, management, and operation of different categories of library districts, including rural county library districts, intercounty rural library districts, and island library districts. Property taxes may be levied by county legislative authorities for the establishment and maintenance of library services, subject to statutory requirements.

Rural county library districts, intercounty rural library districts, or island library districts may contract indebtedness and issue general obligation bonds, subject to statutory requirements and limitations. The maximum term of nonvoter approved general obligation bonds must not exceed six years.

Summary of Bill: The maximum term of nonvoter approved general obligation bonds issued by a rural county library district, intercounty rural library district, or island library district is increased from six to twenty years.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill would give the districts the opportunity to build libraries. Library districts have built some libraries in rural areas. Populations are growing and the library need grows along with that. Expanding the time frame would also provide that the growing population would help fund the growing library system.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Ken Bragg, Former Board Member, Timberland Regional Library.