Z-1888 _______________________________________________
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4231
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Passed Legislature - 1990 E2
State of Washington 51st Legislature 1990 Second Special Session
By Representatives Hine, Ballard, Wang, Haugen, Phillips, Locke, Morris, Spanel, Rasmussen and Pruitt; by request of Governor Gardner
Prefiled with Chief Clerk 6/1/90. Read first time 6/5/90.
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:
THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state there shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article VII, section 2 of the Constitution of the state of Washington to read as follows:
Article VII, section
2. Except as hereinafter
provided and notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the
aggregate of all tax levies upon real and personal property by the state and
all taxing districts now existing or hereafter created, shall not in any year
exceed one ((per centum)) percent of the true and fair value of
such property in money: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That nothing herein shall prevent
levies at the rates now provided by law by or for any port or public utility
district. The term "taxing district" for the purposes of this
section shall mean any political subdivision, municipal corporation, district,
or other governmental agency authorized by law to levy, or have levied for it,
ad valorem taxes on property, other than a port or public utility district.
Such aggregate limitation or any specific limitation imposed by law in
conformity therewith may be exceeded only
(a) By any
taxing district for each of six or fewer consecutive years and for a stated
purpose or purposes, as specified in a ballot proposition authorizing the levy
or levies, when specifically authorized so to do by a majority of at least
three-fifths of the ((electors)) voters thereof voting on the
proposition to levy such additional taxes submitted not more than twelve
months prior to the date on which the proposed initial levy is to be
made and not oftener than twice in such twelve month period, either at a
special election or at the regular election of such taxing district, at which
election the number of ((persons)) voters voting "yes"
on the proposition shall constitute three-fifths of a number equal to forty ((per
centum)) percent of the total ((votes cast)) number of
voters voting in such taxing district at the last preceding general
election when the number of ((electors)) voters voting on the
proposition does not exceed forty ((per centum)) percent of the
total ((votes cast)) number of voters voting in such taxing
district in the last preceding general election; or by a majority of at least
three-fifths of the ((electors)) voters thereof voting on the
proposition to levy when the number of ((electors)) voters voting
on the proposition exceeds forty ((percentum)) percent of the
total ((votes cast)) number of voters voting in such taxing
district in the last preceding general election((: PROVIDED, That
notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, any proposition
pursuant to this subsection to levy additional tax for the support of the
common schools may provide such support for a two year period and any
proposition to levy an additional tax to support the construction,
modernization, or remodelling of school facilities may provide such support for
a period not exceeding six years));
(b) By any
taxing district otherwise authorized by law to issue general obligation bonds
for capital purposes, for the sole purpose of making the required payments of
principal and interest on general obligation bonds issued solely for capital
purposes, other than the replacement of equipment, when authorized so to do by
majority of at least three-fifths of the ((electors)) voters
thereof voting on the proposition to issue such bonds and to pay the principal
and interest thereon by an annual tax levy in excess of the limitation herein
provided during the term of such bonds, submitted not oftener than twice in any
calendar year, at an election held in the manner provided by law for bond
elections in such taxing district, at which election the total number of ((persons))
voters voting on the proposition shall constitute not less than forty ((per
centum)) percent of the total number of ((votes cast)) voters
voting in such taxing district at the last preceding general election:
PROVIDED, That any such taxing district shall have the right by vote of its
governing body to refund any general obligation bonds of said district issued
for capital purposes only, and to provide for the interest thereon and
amortization thereof by annual levies in excess of the tax limitation provided
for herein, AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That the provisions of this section shall
also be subject to the limitations contained in Article VIII, Section 6, of
this Constitution;
(c) By the state or any taxing district for the purpose of paying the principal or interest on general obligation bonds outstanding on December 6, 1934; or for the purpose of preventing the impairment of the obligation of a contract when ordered so to do by a court of last resort.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of the foregoing constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.