[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to school levy equalization; and amending RCW 28A.500.010.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 28A.500.010 and 1997 c 259 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Commencing with taxes assessed in 1988 to be collected in calendar year 1989 and thereafter, in addition to a school district's other general fund allocations, each eligible district shall be provided local effort assistance funds as provided in this section. Such funds are not part of the district's basic education allocation.

(2)(a) "Prior tax collection year" means the year immediately preceding the year in which the local effort assistance shall be allocated.

(b) The "state-wide average ten percent levy rate" means ten percent of the total levy bases as defined in RCW 84.52.0531(3) summed for all school districts, and divided by the total assessed valuation for excess levy purposes in the prior tax collection year for all districts as adjusted to one hundred percent by the county indicated ratio established in RCW 84.48.075.

(c) The "district's ten percent levy rate" means the district's ten percent levy amount divided by the district's assessed valuation for excess levy purposes for the prior tax collection year as adjusted to one hundred percent by the county indicated ratio.

(d) The "district's ten percent levy amount" means the school district's maximum levy authority after transfers determined under RCW 84.52.0531(2) (a) through (c) divided by the district's maximum levy percentage determined under RCW 84.52.0531(4) multiplied by ten percent.

(e) The "district's twelve percent levy amount" means the school district's maximum levy authority after transfers determined under RCW 84.52.0531(2) (a) through (c) divided by the district's maximum levy percentage determined under RCW 84.52.0531(4) multiplied by twelve percent.

(f) "Districts eligible for ten percent equalization" means:

(i) Before the 1999 calendar year, those districts with a ten percent levy rate which exceeds the state-wide average ten percent levy rate; and

(ii) In the 1999 calendar year and thereafter, those districts with a ten percent levy rate that exceeds the state-wide average ten percent levy rate but that is not in the top quartile of all district rates ranked from highest to lowest.

(g) "Districts eligible for twelve percent equalization" means in the 1999 calendar year and thereafter, those districts with a ten percent levy rate in the top quartile of all district rates ranked from highest to lowest.

(h) Unless otherwise stated all rates, percents, and amounts are for the calendar year for which local effort assistance is being calculated under this section.

(3) Allocation of state matching funds to eligible districts for local effort assistance shall be determined as follows:

(a) Funds raised by the district through maintenance and operation levies shall be matched with state funds using the following ratio of state funds to levy funds: (i) The difference between the district's ten percent levy rate and the state-wide average ten percent levy rate; to (ii) the state-wide average ten percent levy rate.

(b) The maximum amount of state matching funds for districts eligible for ten percent equalization shall be the district's ten percent levy amount, multiplied by the following percentage: (i) The difference between the district's ten percent levy rate and the state-wide average ten percent levy rate; divided by (ii) the district's ten percent levy rate.

(c) In the 1999 calendar year and thereafter, the maximum amount of state matching funds for districts eligible for twelve percent equalization shall be the district's twelve percent levy amount multiplied by the following percentage: (i) The difference between the district's ten percent levy rate and the state-wide average ten percent levy rate; divided by (ii) the district's ten percent levy rate.

(d) In the 2000 calendar year and thereafter, districts that are eligible for twelve percent equalization as defined in subsection (2)(g) of this section and certify five-twelfths of the amount necessary for the maximum amount of state matching funds as defined in (c) of this subsection shall be considered eligible for the maximum amount of state matching funds as defined in this subsection.

(4) Local effort assistance funds shall be distributed to qualifying districts as follows:

(a) Thirty percent in April;

(b) Twenty-three percent in May;

(d) Seventeen percent in August;

(e) Nine percent in October;

(f) Seventeen percent in November; and

(g) Two percent in December.