HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2036

BYRepresentatives Ebersole, Brough, Wang and Schoon

Modifying the regulations for metropolitan park districts.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Ferguson, Ranking Republican Member; Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Phillips, Raiter, Rayburn, Todd, and Wood.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (2)

      Signed by Representatives Horn and Wolfe.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT MARCH 1, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Metropolitan park districts are special districts authorized to provide park and recreation improvements, and to impose a property tax levy of up to 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.  Metropolitan park districts are authorized to issue general indebtedness without voter approval, together with other outstanding nonvoter-approved general indebtedness, not exceeding an amount equal to three-fortieths of one percent of the value of taxable property in the park district.

A metropolitan park district may sell its surplus property if authorized by a unanimous vote of its board of park commissioners if the property no longer is suitable for park or other recreational purposes.  Property that was obtained by donation or dedication may be disposed of only if consent is obtained from the donor or dedicator, or his or her heirs, successors, or assigns.

The only metropolitan park district that exists in the state is the Tacoma Metropolitan Park District that is slightly larger than the City of Tacoma.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The total amount of nonvoter-approved general indebtedness that a metropolitan park district may incur is increased from three-fortieths of one percent of the value of taxable property in the district to one-eighth of one percent of the value of taxable property in the district.

Metropolitan park districts are permitted to issue and sell revenue bonds payable from their operating revenues.

A metropolitan park district may sell its property if the park board unanimously declares the property to be surplus, instead of no longer suitable, for park and other recreational purposes. The consent of the donor or dedicator, or his or her heirs, successors, or assigns, must be obtained to sell the donated or dedicated property only if the instrument conveying the property required such approval.  Where such approval is required and the donor or dedicator, or his or her heirs, successors, or assigns, cannot be located after a reasonable search, the metropolitan park district may petition the superior court to approve the sale.

A metropolitan park district that contains a city with a population of greater than 100,000 may commission its own police officers with full police powers to enforce the laws and regulations of the city or county on metropolitan park district property.  Police officers initially employed after June 30, 1989, shall be required to successfully complete basic law enforcement training provided by the Criminal Justice Training Commission.

The board of park commissioners of a metropolitan park district that includes a city with a population of greater that 100,000 may submit to the electorate of the territory sought to be annexed a proposition that all property within the area seeking to annex to the district be assessed and taxed to pay for the outstanding indebtedness of the park district at the same rate as the remainder of the property in the park district.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  (1) The new amount of nonvoter-approved general indebtedness was decreased from three- eighths of one percent to one-eighth of one percent of the assessed valuation.  (2) The ability to create their own court system was deleted.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Jim Salatino, Metropolitan Park District.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Tacoma Metropolitan Park District is the only one of these districts in the state.  The increase in nonvoter-approved debt is reasonable and within the district's capacity to pay with its taxing authority.  This will allow the park district's law enforcement officers to be paid when they attend training classes.  The district needs the revenue bond authority.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.