BILL REQ. #:  S-3256.4 

Read first time 01/13/12.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to creating flexible conservation futures taxing districts; and adding a new chapter to Title 36 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   FLEXIBLE CONSERVATION FUTURES TAXING DISTRICTS AUTHORIZED. 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 create a flexible conservation futures taxing district within such county and may enlarge any district containing a lesser territory than the whole county, or reduce any district already created, or combine or consolidate districts or divide, or create new districts from time to time in the manner provided in this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   LEVY RATE. A levy imposed on property under this chapter may not exceed a total levy amount of six and one-quarter cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation against the assessed valuation of all taxable property within the county.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this chapter, "district" means a flexible conservation futures taxing district created under this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   TAX IN LIEU OF CONSERVATION FUTURES LEVY. A county may not impose a levy under this chapter on any property on which a levy is imposed under RCW 84.34.230.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   CREATION OF DISTRICT--RESOLUTION OR PETITION--CONTENTS. (1) A district may be initiated upon the adoption of a resolution of intention by a county legislative authority. A resolution of intention must set forth:
     (a) The nature of the district's proposed activities;
     (b) That the amount of any levies proposed to be raised by the district are in lieu of any conservation futures levies imposed under RCW 84.34.230; and
     (c) The proposed boundaries of the district.
     (2) A resolution of intention must also designate the number of the proposed district, and fix a date, time, and place for a public hearing on the formation of the proposed district. The date for the public hearing must be at least thirty days and no more than ninety days after the adoption of the resolution of intention unless an emergency exists.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   CREATION OF DISTRICT--PUBLIC HEARING--NOTICE--CONTENTS. (1) Notice of the public hearing under this chapter must be published in at least two consecutive issues of a newspaper of general circulation in the proposed district, the date of the first publication to be at least fifteen days prior to the date fixed for the public hearing by the resolution of intention.
     (2) Notices of the public hearing must:
     (a) Refer to the resolution of intention;
     (b) Designate the proposed district by number;
     (c) Set forth a proposed plan describing:
     (i) The nature of the proposed district activities; and
     (ii) That the amount of any levies proposed to be raised by the district are in lieu of any conservation futures levies imposed under RCW 84.34.230; and
     (d) Indicate the date, time, and place of the public hearing designated in the resolution of intention.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   DESIGNATION OF DISTRICT. If the county legislative authority deems the interests of the county or of any particular section thereof will be benefited by the creation of a district or districts under this chapter, or the changing thereof, it must make a record thereof upon the minutes of the county legislative authority and must designate such territory in each such district as "Flexible Conservation Futures Taxing District No. [insert number] for [insert county name] County."

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   TREASURER--TAX LEVIES. The county treasurer must be ex officio treasurer for each of the districts formed under this chapter and the county assessor and other county officers must take notice of the formation of such district or districts and are governed by the provisions of this chapter. The tax levies under this chapter must be extended on the tax rolls against the property liable therefor the same as other taxes are extended, and must become a part of the general tax against such property and be collected and accounted for the same as other taxes are, with the terms and penalties attached thereto. The moneys so collected must be held and disbursed as a special fund for such district and must be paid out only on warrant issued by the county auditor upon voucher approved by the board of county commissioners.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   SUPERVISION OF THE DISTRICT. The supervisor of the district must be either:
     (1) The county commissioner within his or her respective commissioner district; or
     (2) A person designated by the county legislative authority, other than the county commissioner, to act as the district supervisor. If a person other than the county commissioner is designated as district supervisor, the county legislative authority must fix that person's compensation therefor. If a county legislative authority member is designated as the district supervisor he or she is entitled to his or her actual expenses and his or her per diem as a member of the county legislative authority, the same as if he or she were doing other county business.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   Sections 1 through 9 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 36 RCW.