House Bill Analysis

HB 2635

Title: AN ACT Relating to special elections to authorize increases in taxes, rates, or other monetary charges as required by Initiative Measure No. 695.

Brief Description: Allowing mail balloting for I-695 tax elections.

Sponsors: Romero, Wolfe.

Brief Summary

CPermits local governments to submit ballot propositions to voters authoring increases in taxes, fees, or other monetary charges at a special election held at any date if the special election is conducted using mail ballots.

CPermits state agencies to submit ballot propositions to voters authoring increases in fees or other monetary charges at a special election held at any date if the special election is conducted using mail ballots and the state agency pays for the costs of the election out of its current budget.

House State Government Committee

STAFF: Steve Lundin  (786-7127)

BACKGROUND:

Initiative Measure No. 695 was approved by voters at the November, 1999, general election.  Among other provisions, this measure only allows the state or a local government to increase a tax, fee, or other monetary charge if voters approve the increase.

Six potential dates in any year are specified by state law when a special election may be held, including a date in February, March, April, May, the primary, and the general election.

A local government is required to pay its proportionate share of election costs whenever a ballot proposition or elected office from that local government appears on the ballot.  However, the state only pays its proportionate share of election costs whenever a state ballot proposition or elective office appears on the ballot in an election or primary held in an odd-numbered year.  Counties absorb these costs if a state ballot proposition or elective office appears on the ballot in an even-numbered year.

SUMMARY:

A local government may submit ballot propositions to voters authoring increases in taxes, fees, or other monetary charges at a special election held at any date, if the special election is conducted using mail ballots.

A state agency may submit ballot propositions to voters authorizing increases in fees or other monetary charges at a special election held at any date, if the special election is conducted using mail ballots and the state agency pays for the costs of the election out of its current budget.

APPROPRIATION: None.

FISCAL NOTE: Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Ninety days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is enacted.