HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1172
As Reported by House Committee On:
Local Government & Housing
Title: An act relating to authorizing additional fire protection district levies.
Brief Description: Authorizing additional fire protection district levies.
Sponsors: Representatives Dunshee and Mulliken.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Local Government & Housing: 2/1/01, 2/26/01 [DP].
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Brief Summary of Bill
$Extends authority for the additional fire protection district levy to a fire protection district which contracts with another municipal corporation for the services of at least one full time, paid employee.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT & HOUSING
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Dunshee, Democratic Co‑Chair; Mulliken, Republican Co‑Chair; Edwards, Democratic Vice Chair; Mielke, Republican Vice Chair; Berkey, Crouse, DeBolt, Dunn, Edmonds, Hatfield, Jarrett and Kirby.
Staff: Scott MacColl (786‑7106).
Background:
Fire Protection Districts are junior taxing districts that have the authority to issue bonds, and levy taxes to pay for the bonds. Districts also may levy taxes that do not exceed 50 cents per thousand, up to a total general levy rate not to exceed one dollar per thousand. There are approximately 420 fire protection districts in Washington.
The board of fire commissioners may levy an additional 50 cents per thousand, as long as there is room under the total constitutional tax rate. The additional levy, or any portion of the levy, may also be made when dollar rates of other taxing units are released by agreement from their authorized levies.
This additional authority is also available in a county where either a) a township has never been formed, or where there are one or more townships in existence making annual tax levies and such townships are disorganized as a result of a county wide disorganization and is no longer making a tax levy; or b) any township for any other reason no longer makes any levy.
Summary of Bill:
The authority to assess the additional 50 cents per thousand is expanded to include any fire protection district which has at least one full time, paid employee, or contracts with another municipal corporation for the services of at least one full time, paid employee.
The additional levy, or any portion of the levy, may also be made when dollar rates of other taxing units release by agreement from their authorized levies.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not Requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Districts that contract for services don=t have additional levy authority, right now can only get extra if we have a full time employee. Consolidations are happening, and contracting with a city or larger districts is a needed flexibility for smaller districts. This bill encourages efficiencies in government.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: (In support) Rep. Dunshee, prime sponsor; and Ryan Spiller, Washington Fire District Commissioners Association.