S-4441 _______________________________________________
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 8235
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 51st Legislature 1990 Regular Session
By Senator McCaslin
Read first time 1/24/90 and referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.
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 when specifically authorized so to do by a majority of at least
three-fifths of the electors thereof voting on the proposition to levy such
additional tax submitted not more than twelve months prior to the date on which
the proposed 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 voting "yes" on
the proposition shall constitute three-fifths of a number equal to forty ((per
centum)) percent of the total votes cast in such taxing district at
the last preceding general election when the number of electors voting on the
proposition does not exceed forty ((per centum)) percent of the
total votes cast in such taxing district in the last preceding general
election; or by a majority of at least three-fifths of the electors thereof
voting on the proposition to levy when the number of electors voting on the
proposition exceeds forty ((percentum)) percent of the total
votes cast 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 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 voting on the
proposition shall constitute not less than forty ((per centum)) percent
of the total number of votes cast 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;
(d) By any county for the purpose of criminal justice services such as law enforcement, prosecution, and judicial services, when specifically authorized by a majority of the electors of the county voting on the proposition, with a levy rate not to exceed one dollar per thousand dollars of assessed value.
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.