SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5222

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5222 as recommended by Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Innovation be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Murray, Chair; Kilmer, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Baumgartner, Baxter, Brown, Conway, Fraser, Hatfield, Hewitt, Holmquist Newbry, Honeyford, Kastama, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Pflug, Pridemore, Regala, Rockefeller and Tom.

Background: Property tax levies imposed by port districts are excess levies beyond the constitutional 1 percent limitation on the cumulative rates of regular property taxes that may be imposed in any year. Port districts have been authorized to impose, among others, the following property tax levies:

annual levies of up to $0.45 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which may be imposed without voter approval for general port purposes; and
annual levies of up to $0.45 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which may be imposed without voter approval for two six-year periods to finance the industrial development of marginal lands located within industrial development districts (IDD) created by the port district.

The first six year IDD levy requires a public hearing prior to imposition. If a port district has already imposed levies for industrial development of marginal lands for six years, the port must publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in its boundaries that it intends to continue imposing levies or begin reimposing these levies for the second set of six years. A potential referendum on the second six years of levies will be submitted to the voters if a referendum petition is timely filed.

If voters approve a ballot proposition authorizing the additional levies, a port district in a county bordering the Pacific Ocean may impose additional annual property tax levies of up to $0.45 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for a third six-year period to finance industrial development of marginal lands in IDDs. This additional taxing authority applies to the ports of Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Grays Harbor, Willapa Harbor, Peninsula, Ilwaco, and Chinook.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Provisions regarding IDD levies for port districts are amended. Port districts are authorized to collect revenue through a multiyear annual IDD levy, which may be extended for a second and third time so long as certain statutory requirements are met and the levy period does not exceed 20 years from the date the initial levy is assessed. The maximum aggregate revenue amount that can be collected over the first or second revenue period is the same as the maximum allowable amount that could have been collected under current statute. A port district must adopt a resolution during the base year approving the use of a first or second multi-year levy period. The base year is defined as the year prior to the first collection year in the levy period.

Ports with a current IDD levy are not permitted to lengthen the six-year time period of their existing levy. Ports that levied under the current statute may not levy under the new statute for the same levy period. Levy periods are not required to run consecutively and levy periods may not overlap. The date the port must publish notice of its intention to impose the second IDD levy is changed from June 1 to April 1 of the year in which the levy is imposed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Economic Development, Trade & Innovation): PRO: Infrastructure development is an essential part of economic development, particularly as it pertains to industrial development of marginal lands. The Port of Edmonds' Trade and Economic Development Committee, over the past couple of years, has been trying to come up with alternative strategies and financing tools to complete development projects in response to recent budgetary constraints. IDD money is really seed money: it is important for bound financing, which is used to leverage infrastructure improvements; infrastructure improvements attract private sector investment and new partnership, which creates jobs; partnership and job creation will effectively increase and maintain the state's economic competitiveness. IDD levy powers are very important to all ports, both large and small. The current levy capacity of $0.45 cents for six years is actually more than the Port of South Whidbey needs for its projects. However, if the port does not utilize the full $0.45 cents, it would sacrifice the future capacity because of the way the law is currently written. The IDD levies need to be sized for the project that ports have. Small ports need to be able to minimize the tax burdens on its neighbors and the ports. This bill provides ports with additional flexibility; it does not expand or increase the taxing authority of the ports to invest in infrastructure. The bill extends the taxing period from six years out to 20 years, which gives the ports a lot more flexibility in financing.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Recommended Substitute (Ways & Means): PRO: In the past ports have successfully partnered with private industry and the state for the development of good family wage jobs. Since the state help has dwindled, we are looking for ways to partner with the state that doesn't cost the state money. The current levy method is not flexible. This bill allows the ports to be more flexible in there financing without raising more taxes. This bill actually reduces the annual burden on taxpayers. Our funding for projects usually cover 20-30 years, so this will allow us to match those funding plans with the revenue streams.