BILL REQ. #:  H-4691.1 

READ FIRST TIME 01/18/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to the levies by school districts; amending RCW 84.52.053; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature recognizes that school districts request voter approval for two to four year levies based on their projected levy capacities at the time that the levies are submitted to the voters. It is the intent of the legislature to permit school districts with voter-approved maintenance and operation levies to seek an additional approval from the voters, if subsequently enacted legislation would permit a higher levy.

Sec. 2   RCW 84.52.053 and 2007 c 129 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The limitations imposed by RCW 84.52.050 through 84.52.056, and 84.52.043 shall not prevent the levy of taxes by school districts, when authorized so to do by the voters of such school district in the manner and for the purposes and number of years allowable under Article VII, section 2(a) of the Constitution of this state. Elections for such taxes shall be held in the year in which the levy is made or, in the case of propositions authorizing two-year through four-year levies for maintenance and operation support of a school district, authorizing two-year levies for transportation vehicle funds established in RCW 28A.160.130, or authorizing two-year through six-year levies to support the construction, modernization, or remodeling of school facilities, which includes the purposes of RCW 28A.320.330(2)(f), in the year in which the first annual levy is made.
     (2) Once additional tax levies have been authorized for maintenance and operation support of a school district for a two-year through four-year period as provided under subsection (1) of this section, no further additional tax levies for maintenance and operation support of the district for that period may be authorized, except to provide for subsequently enacted increases in statutory capacity. For the purpose of applying the limitation of this subsection, a two-year through six-year levy to support the construction, modernization, or remodeling of school facilities shall not be deemed to be a tax levy for maintenance and operation support of a school district.
     (3) A special election may be called and the time therefor fixed by the board of school directors, by giving notice thereof by publication in the manner provided by law for giving notices of general elections, at which special election the proposition authorizing such excess levy shall be submitted in such form as to enable the voters favoring the proposition to vote "yes" and those opposed thereto to vote "no".