Brief Description: Modifying the definition of rural county for economic development purposes.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Management (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen and Rasmussen).

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Management
House Committee on Community & Economic Development & Trade
House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Audit Review

Background: Rural counties are currently entitled to various tax incentives which encourage economic development, including tax deferrals for investment projects and tax credits for certain business projects. For the purpose of these tax incentives, a rural county is defined as a county with less than 100 persons per square mile, or a county smaller than 225 square miles. Currently, the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB), Rural Washington Loan Fund (RWLF), Associate Development Organization (ADO), and electric utility rural economic development revolving fund statutes do not include this definition of a rural county.

Summary: The definition of rural counties in the CERB, RWLF, ADO, and electric utility rural economic development revolving fund statutes are made consistent with the definition of rural counties used in the rural tax incentive programs.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      48   0
House      93   0   (House amended)
Senate      46   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective: July 1, 2009