FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 168

                                  C 325 L 87

BYHouse Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Madsen, Brough, Haugen, May, Unsoeld, Sayan, Grant, Nutley, L. Smith, Ferguson,  Holm, Todd, Belcher, Basich, Hargrove, Spanel, Leonard, Cooper and Hine)

Revising provisions on fire protection district service charges.

House Committe on Local Government

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Fire protection districts are authorized to finance their activities by the imposition of:  (1) a variety of property tax levies; and (2) service charges on personal property and improvements to real property located in the district that benefit or will benefit from the fire protection provided by the district.  Service charges may only be imposed for a three-year period if a ballot proposition authorizing the service charges were approved by a 60 percent majority vote of the district voters.  Service charges cannot generate more than 60 percent of a fire district's budget. Public property, religious property and public and private schools and institutions of higher education are exempted from these service charges.  No fire district has attempted to impose these service charges.

SUMMARY:

The service charges that a fire protection district may impose are changed.

The benefit by which a service charge is apportioned relates to the services provided by the district instead of just the fire protection provided by the district.

Examples of how a service charge may be measured are expanded, including the need for specialized services.

The exemption from service charges for religious property does not include property used for business operations or profit-making enterprises or activities.  The exemption includes the sanctuary; facilities for kindergarten, primary and secondary educational purposes; and institutions of higher education.

The exemption from these service charges is removed for any private kindergarten, primary or secondary schools and institutions of higher education that are not associated with a religion.

If a fire district imposes service charges, it cannot impose the third 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation property tax.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 91   3

      Senate    47     2(Senate amended)

      House 95   2(House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 26, 1987