S-5193.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6867
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State of Washington 56th Legislature 2000 1st Special Session
By Senator Swecker
Read first time 03/21/2000. Referred to Committee on State & Local Government.
AN ACT Relating to local government expenditures; and adding new sections to chapter 43.135 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.135 RCW to read as follows:
(1) A political subdivision of the state shall not expend from its general expense budget during any fiscal year moneys in excess of the local expenditure limit established under this section and section 2 of this act.
(2) A political subdivision shall not issue or redeem any check, warrant, or voucher that will result in an expenditure for any fiscal year in excess of the local expenditure limit established under this section and section 2 of this act.
(3) The political subdivision's expenditure limit for any fiscal year shall be the previous fiscal year's expenditure limit increased by a percentage rate that equals the previous year's local fiscal growth factor.
(4) For purposes of computing the local expenditure limit for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2001, the phrase "the previous fiscal year's local expenditure limit" means the total expenditures from the general expense budget, not including federal funds, for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2000, plus the local fiscal growth factor for fiscal year beginning January 1, 1999.
(5) Each November, the political subdivision shall adjust the local expenditure limit by the local fiscal growth factor for the preceding fiscal year and then project an expenditure limit for the next two fiscal years.
(6) "Local fiscal growth factor" means the sum of inflation and a percentage equal to the ratio that the increase in the assessed value in the taxing district resulting from new construction and improvements to property under chapter 84.55 RCW bears to the total assessed value for the political subdivision for the previous year.
(7) "Inflation" means the percentage change in the implicit price deflator for the United States as published by the federal bureau of labor statistics.
(8) "Political subdivision" means every county, city, town, and special purpose district of the state.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.135 RCW to read as follows:
(1) After January 1, 2001, a political subdivision may exceed the local expenditure limit if:
(a) The expenditure has been approved by a majority of the voters of the political subdivision; or
(b) The legislative authority of the political subdivision has declared an emergency by a two-thirds vote of the legislative authority. The authority to expend in excess of the local expenditure limit under this subsection (1)(b) expires sixty days following the next general election unless the authority has been approved under (a) of this subsection.
(2) Any ballot measure submitted to the voters under subsection (1) of this section shall state the proposed percentage increase in expenditures and the duration of the authority.
(3) If the cost of any local program or function is shifted from the general expense budget on or after January 1, 2000, to another source of funding, or if moneys are transferred from the general expense budget to another fund or account, the political subdivision shall lower the local expenditure limit to reflect the shift.
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