BILL REQ. #:  S-0641.1 

Read first time 01/17/2007.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development.

     AN ACT Relating to a conservation futures levy; and amending RCW 84.34.230.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 84.34.230 and 2005 c 449 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Conservation futures are a useful tool for counties to preserve lands of public interest for future generations. Counties are encouraged to use some conservation futures as one tool for salmon preservation purposes.
     (2) For the purpose of acquiring conservation futures and other rights and interests in real property pursuant to RCW 84.34.210 and 84.34.220, and for maintaining and operating any property acquired with these funds, a county may levy an amount not to exceed ((six and one-quarter)) twelve and one-half cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation against the assessed valuation of all taxable property within the county. The limitations in RCW 84.52.043 shall not apply to the tax levy authorized in this section.
     (3)(a) Of the amount levied by a county under subsection (2) of this section that is in excess of six and one-quarter cents per thousand dollars, at least one-half shall be used to acquire conservation easements on farm and agricultural land or purchase the development rights to farm and agricultural land. Such acquisition of a conservation easement or purchase of development right shall be made in a way to retain the long-term farm and agricultural use of the land.
     (b) An amount levied by a county under subsection (2) of this section that is in excess of six and one-quarter cents per thousand dollars and that is not used under (a) of this subsection, may be used in accordance with RCW 84.34.210 and 84.34.220.
     (4) Any rights or interests in real property acquired under this section after July 24, 2005, must be located within the assessing county. Further, the county must determine if the rights or interests in real property acquired with these funds would reduce the capacity of land suitable for development necessary to accommodate the allocated housing and employment growth, as adopted in the countywide planning policies. When actions are taken that reduce capacity to accommodate planned growth, the jurisdiction shall adopt reasonable measures to increase the capacity lost by such actions.