BILL REQ. #:  H-4446.1 

Read first time 01/16/08.   Referred to Committee on Housing.

     AN ACT Relating to a voluntary contribution program for property owners taking the multifamily property tax exemption; amending RCW 84.14.100; and adding a new section to chapter 84.14 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 84.14 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning in 2009, cities with property owners taking an exemption under this chapter shall establish a voluntary contribution program. Each year, county treasurers, with the assistance of cities subject to this section, shall notify property owners taking an exemption under this chapter: (a) Indicating the property owner's exempt value and exempt amount under this chapter for the calendar year; (b) describing the contribution program under this section; and (c) requesting the property owner to make a voluntary contribution under this section in any amount. A county treasurer shall distribute amounts collected under this section to the appropriate city or cities. A city receiving a payment under this section shall deposit the money in a new or existing segregated account to be used for the housing-related purposes described in subsection (2) of this section. A city may match amounts contributed by property owners.
     (2) Moneys received under this section may be used for activities that provide housing opportunities for very low-income households with incomes at or below eighty percent of the area median income. Eligible housing activities include:
     (a) Acquiring, constructing, or rehabilitating housing projects or units within housing projects, including units for homeownership, rental units, seasonal and permanent farm worker housing units, single room occupancy units, transitional housing units, supportive housing units, and homeless shelter units;
     (b) Operating and maintaining housing projects or units within housing projects, including emergency homeless shelters, youth shelters, transitional housing, and permanent housing;
     (c) Providing rental vouchers for persons who are homeless or in immediate danger of becoming homeless;
     (d) Providing services to prevent homelessness, such as emergency eviction prevention programs and including temporary rental and mortgage assistance to prevent homelessness;
     (e) Providing temporary services to assist persons leaving state institutions and other state programs to prevent them from becoming or remaining homeless; and
     (f) Renting and furnishing dwelling units for the use of homeless persons.
     (3) For the purposes of this section, "exempt amount" means the aggregate tax rate multiplied by the assessed value exempt under this chapter for the year.

Sec. 2   RCW 84.14.100 and 2007 c 430 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Thirty days after the anniversary of the date of the certificate of tax exemption and each year for the tax exemption period, the owner of the rehabilitated or newly constructed property shall file with a designated authorized representative of the city an annual report indicating the following:
     (a) A statement of occupancy and vacancy of the rehabilitated or newly constructed property during the twelve months ending with the anniversary date;
     (b) A certification by the owner that the property has not changed use and, if applicable, that the property has been in compliance with the affordable housing requirements as described in RCW 84.14.020 since the date of the certificate approved by the city;
     (c) A description of changes or improvements constructed after issuance of the certificate of tax exemption; and
     (d) Any additional information requested by the city in regards to the units receiving a tax exemption.
     (2) All cities, which issue certificates of tax exemption for multiunit housing that conform to the requirements of this chapter, shall report annually by December 31st of each year, beginning in 2007, to the department of community, trade, and economic development. The report must include the following information:
     (a) The number of tax exemption certificates granted;
     (b) The total number and type of units produced or to be produced;
     (c) The number and type of units produced or to be produced meeting affordable housing requirements;
     (d) The actual development cost of each unit produced;
     (e) The total monthly rent or total sale amount of each unit produced;
     (f) The income of each renter household at the time of initial occupancy and the income of each initial purchaser of owner-occupied
units at the time of purchase for each of the units receiving a tax exemption and a summary of these figures for the city; ((and))
     (g) The value of the tax exemption for each project receiving a tax exemption and the total value of tax exemptions granted;
     (h) The amount voluntarily contributed to the county treasurer by property owners under section 1 of this act; and
     (i) The activities funded by the city with the moneys acquired under section 1 of this act and the outcomes of those activities.