FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1499

C 341 L 19

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning certain public facilities district's authorization to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair, finance, and operate one or more recreational facilities other than a ski area with voter approval.

Sponsors: Representatives Jenkin and Peterson.

House Committee on Local Government

Senate Committee on Local Government

Background:

A public facilities district (PFD) is a municipal corporation with independent taxing authority and is a taxing district under the state Constitution.

A PFD is authorized to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair, finance, and operate one or more regional centers. A "regional center" is a convention, conference, or special events center, or any combination of facilities, and its related parking facilities. A "special events center" is a facility, available to the public, used for community events, sporting events, trade shows, and artistic, musical, theatrical, or other cultural exhibitions, presentations, or performances.

There are several major types of local PFDs that can be created which include a:

• single-town or city PFD – A single-town or city PFD is created by any town or city located in a county with a population of less than 1 million;

• contiguous group of towns /cities PFD – A contiguous group of towns/cities PFD is created when any contiguous group of towns or cities located in a county or counties each with a population of less than 1 million enter an interlocal agreement for the PFD's creation and joint operation;

• city/county joint PFD – A city /county joint PFD  is created and jointly operated (via an interlocal agreement) by: (1) a town or city, or any contiguous group of towns or cities located in a county with a population of 1 million; and (2) a contiguous county, or the county or counties in which the town or cities are located; and

• regional city PFD – A regional city PFD  is created by a city located in a county with a population greater than 1 million, when the city has a total population of less than 115,000 but greater than 80,000 and commences construction of a regional center prior to July 1, 2008.

Additional Regional Public Facilities District.

In addition, any three contiguous towns or cities, which have already created a local (single town/city) PFD and have a combined population of at least 160,000, may create an additional regional PFD. These additional regional PFDs, created by a group of three contiguous cities or towns, are authorized to acquire and operate "recreational facilities," not including ski areas (in addition to its regular PFD powers). In exercising its authority to establish a regional center or recreational facility, a regional PFD of this type must obtain voter approval to fund the project.

All PFDs may charge fees for the use of its facilities. A PFD may also impose a variety of taxes to fund its regional center or recreational facility including an admissions tax not exceeding 5 percent, a vehicle parking tax not exceeding 10 percent, and a voter-approved local sales and use tax of up to 2 percent.

Summary:

A local PFD (single town or city PFD) created by a city or town that has also participated in the creation of an additional regional PFD (with three or more contiguous cities or towns) is authorized to establish and operate a recreational facility. This PFD possesses all the same powers with respect to recreational facilities, other than a ski area, that other PFDs have with respect to regional centers. If establishing a recreational facility, the local PFD must obtain voter approval to fund the project.

Votes on Final Passage: