AN ACT Relating to property taxes; and amending RCW 39.67.010, 39.67.020, 84.55.092, 84.52.043, and 84.52.100.

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

Sec. 1. Section 1, chapter 107, Laws of 1986 and RCW 39.67.010 are each amended to read as follows:

Any agreement or contract between two taxing districts other than the state which is otherwise authorized by law may be made contingent upon a particular property tax levy rate of an identified taxing district other than the state where such rate affects the regular property tax rate of one of the parties to the contract and therefore affects the party's resources with which to perform under the contract. The governing body of every taxing district that could have its tax levy affected by such a contract shall be notified about the contract.

((~~This section shall expire December 31, 1988.~~))

Sec. 2. Section 2, chapter 107, Laws of 1986 and RCW 39.67.020 are each amended to read as follows:

Any taxing district other than the state may transfer funds to another taxing district other than the state where the regular property tax levy rate of the second district may affect the regular property tax levy rate of the first district and where such transfer is part of an agreement whereby proration or reduction of property taxes is lessened or avoided. The governing body of every taxing district that could have its tax levy affected by such an agreement shall be notified about the agreement.

((~~This section shall expire December 31, 1988.~~))

Sec. 3. Section 3, chapter 107, Laws of 1986 and RCW 84.55.092 are each amended to read as follows:

The regular property tax ((~~levies~~)) levy for each taxing district other than the state ((~~for taxes due in 1987 through 1991~~)) may be set at the amount which would ((~~otherwise~~)) be allowed otherwise under this chapter if the regular property tax levy for the district for taxes due in prior years beginning with 1986 ((~~and 1987~~)) had been set at the full amount allowed under this chapter.

((~~This section shall expire December 31, 1991.~~)) The purpose of this section is to remove the incentive for a taxing district to maintain its tax levy at the maximum level permitted under this chapter, and to protect the future levy capacity of a taxing district that reduces its tax levy below the level that it otherwise could impose under this chapter, by removing the adverse consequences to future levy capacities resulting from such levy reductions.

Sec. 4. Section 134, chapter 195, Laws of 1973 1st ex. sess. and RCW 84.52.043 are each amended to read as follows:

Within and subject to the limitations imposed by RCW 84.52.050 as amended, the regular ad valorem tax levies upon real and personal property by the taxing districts hereafter named shall be as follows:

(1) Levies of the senior taxing districts shall be as follows: (a) The levy by the state shall not exceed three dollars and sixty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value adjusted to the state equalized value in accordance with the indicated ratio fixed by the state department of revenue to be used exclusively for the support of the common schools; (b) the levy by any county shall not exceed one dollar and eighty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value; (c) the levy ((~~for~~)) by any road district shall not exceed two dollars and twenty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed value; and (d) the levy by ((~~or for~~)) any city or town shall not exceed three dollars and thirty-seven and one-half cents per thousand dollars of assessed value((~~: PROVIDED FURTHER, That counties of the fifth class and under are~~)). However any county is hereby authorized to increase its levy from one dollar and eighty cents to a rate not to exceed two dollars and forty-seven and one-half cents per thousand dollars of assessed value for general county purposes ((~~and from one dollar and fifty-seven and one-half cents to two dollars and twenty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed value for county road purposes~~)) if the total ((~~levy~~)) levies for both ((~~purposes does~~)) the county and any road district within the county do not exceed four dollars and five cents per thousand dollars of assessed value((: PROVIDED FURTHER, That counties of the fourth and the ninth class are hereby authorized to levy two dollars and two and one-half cents per thousand dollars of assessed value until such time as the junior taxing agencies are utilizing all the dollar rates available to them: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That the total property tax levy authorized by law without a vote of the people shall not exceed nine dollars and fifteen cents per thousand dollars of assessed value)), and no other taxing district has its levy reduced as a result of the increased county levy.

(2) Except as provided in RCW 84.52.100, the aggregate levies of junior taxing districts and senior taxing districts, other than the state, shall not exceed five dollars and fifty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. The term "junior taxing districts" includes all taxing districts other than the state, counties, road districts, cities, towns, port districts, and public utility districts. The limitations provided in this subsection shall not apply to: (a) Levies at the rates provided by existing law by or for any port or public utility district ((~~shall not be included in the limitation set forth by this proviso.~~

~~Nothing herein shall prevent levies at the rates provided by existing law by or for any port or power district~~)); (b) excess property tax levies authorized in Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution; (c) levies for acquiring conservation futures as authorized under RCW 84.34.230; and (d) levies for emergency medical care or emergency medical services imposed under RCW 84.52.069.

(3) It is the intent of the legislature that the provisions of this section shall supersede all conflicting provisions of law including ((~~section 24, chapter 299, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. and section 8, chapter 124, Laws of 1972 ex. sess~~)) RCW 84.52.050.

Sec. 5. Section 7, chapter 138, Laws of 1987 and RCW 84.52.100 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The governing body of any library district, public hospital district, metropolitan park district, or fire protection district may provide for the submission of a ballot proposition to the voters of the taxing district authorizing the taxing district to maintain its otherwise authorized tax levy rate, and authorizing an increase in the cumulative regular property tax limitation established in RCW 84.52.043 of ((~~nine~~)) five dollars and ((~~fifteen~~)) fifty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation within the taxing district, as provided in this section. A fire protection district may use this authority to increase its regular property tax levy up to fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation.

(2) A resolution by a governing body, requesting that a special election be called to submit such a ballot proposition to the voters, must be transmitted to the county legislative authority of the county, or county legislative authorities of the counties, within which the taxing district is located, at least forty-five days before the special election date at which the ballot proposition is submitted. The ballot proposition shall be worded substantially as follows:

"Shall the cumulative limitation on most regular property tax rates be increased by an amount not exceeding thirty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation for a five consecutive year period allowing (insert the name of the taxing district) to maintain its otherwise authorized property tax rate?"

The ballot proposition for a fire protection district shall be worded substantially as follows:

"Shall the cumulative limitation on most regular property tax rates be increased by an amount not exceeding thirty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation for a five consecutive year period allowing (insert the name of the taxing district) to permit the fire protection district to impose its property tax at a value up to fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation?"

Approval of this ballot proposition by a simple majority vote shall authorize the following for the succeeding five consecutive year period: (a) Property tax rates of junior taxing districts are calculated first as if this proposition had not been approved; (b) subject to the one hundred six percent limitation, the regular property tax rate of the taxing district receiving such authorization is increased to a level not exceeding the lesser of its maximum authorized regular property tax rate or whatever tax rate it otherwise would have been able to impose plus an additional thirty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation; and (c) the cumulative property tax rate limitation is increased within the boundaries of the taxing district receiving this authorization to an amount equal to ((~~nine~~)) five dollars and ((~~fifteen~~)) fifty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation plus the increased amount of the regular levy rate of this taxing district, but not to exceed ((~~nine~~)) five dollars and ((~~fifty~~)) ninety cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation.

(3) If two or more taxing districts that occupy a portion of the same territory receive such approval, the additional authorized taxing capacity above ((~~nine~~)) five dollars and ((~~fifteen~~)) fifty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation shall be distributed among these taxing districts by adjusting their levy rate requests in the same manner and under the same conditions as if they were the only taxing districts in the area subject to adjustment of their property tax rates and the levy rate adjustments were being made with the cumulative limitation of ((~~nine~~)) five dollars and ((~~fifteen~~)) fifty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation.

(4) Levies authorized under RCW 84.52.069 are not subject to the rate adjustments and the ((~~nine~~)) five dollar and ((~~fifty~~)) ninety cent per thousand dollar of assessed valuation cumulative limitation on regular property tax rates established by this section.