BILL REQ. #:  H-0995.1 

Read first time 01/26/11.   Referred to Committee on Local Government.

     WHEREAS, Taxpayers in certain counties of the state persistently contribute more in state taxes than the state expends in those counties; and
     WHEREAS, Other counties of the state persistently absorb more state moneys than taxpayers in those counties contribute in state taxes; and
     WHEREAS, Taxpayers in counties that contribute more in state taxes than the state expends in their counties reap a disproportionately small benefit from their tax contribution, and therefore bear an unjust and unreasonable tax burden; and
     WHEREAS, The fiscal well-being of the state demands that each Washington county contribute to the economic welfare of the state; and
     WHEREAS, Principles of fundamental tax-burden fairness call for dissolution and reorganization of counties that persistently absorb more state funds than their taxpayers contribute to state tax revenues;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:
     THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article XI, section 3 of the Constitution of the state of Washington to read as follows:

     Article XI, section 3. No new counties shall be established which shall reduce any county to a population less than four thousand (4,000), nor shall a new county be formed containing a less population than two thousand (2,000). There shall be no territory stricken from any county unless a majority of the voters living in such territory shall petition therefor and then only under such other conditions as may be prescribed by a general law applicable to the whole state. If the legislature determines that a county's taxpayers have absorbed state funds equaling at least two hundred percent of the aggregate tax revenues the state has received from the county over the previous ten years, the legislature may, under such other conditions as may be prescribed by general law applicable to the whole state, provide for dissolution and reorganization of the county and cease to recognize it as a legal subdivision of the state. Every county which shall be enlarged or created from territory taken from any other county or counties shall be liable for a just proportion of the existing debts and liabilities of the county or counties from which such territory shall be taken: Provided, That in such accounting neither county shall be charged with any debt or liability then existing incurred in the purchase of any county property, or in the purchase or construction of any county buildings then in use, or under construction, which shall fall within and be retained by the county: Provided further, That this shall not be construed to affect the rights of creditors.
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the concise description of this amendment shall be: "This amendment would authorize the state legislature to dissolve and reorganize counties under certain financial conditions."

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.