Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Natural Resources Committee

2SSB 5104

Brief Description:  Using revenues under the county conservation futures levy.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines (originally sponsored by Senator Carlson).

Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill

$Increases the existing levy for county conservation futures from 6.25 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation to 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

$Authorizes a county to use up to 10 percent of the funds collected from the county conservation futures levy for maintaining and operating property acquired from funds received from this levy.

$Prohibits revenues raised from county conservation futures levies from supplanting existing maintenance and operation funding.

Hearing Date:  2/27/02

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786‑7092).

Background:

Counties are authorized to impose a levy up to 6.25 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation upon all taxable property in the county to acquire conservation futures.  Conservation futures are the future development rights to property designated as open space, farm and agricultural land, and timber land.  Thirteen counties currently use this levy authority.  The decision to impose the county conservation futures levy is made by the county legislative authority.  There is no authority to use the proceeds from this levy for the maintenance and operation of property acquired through this levy.

The Legislative Task Force on Local Parks and Recreation Maintenance and Operations recommended in its 2001 report to the Legislature that a portion of the funds from the county conservation futures levy be authorized for maintaining and operating property acquired through these levies.

Summary of Bill:

The existing levy for county conservation futures is increased from 6.25 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation to 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.  Counties are encouraged to use conservation futures as a tool for salmon recovery.  Any rights or interest acquired in real property through conservation futures must be located within the assessing county.  Up to 10 percent of conservation futures funds may be used for maintenance and operation of property acquired through the program.  Revenue acquired from this levy may not be used to supplant existing maintenance and operation funding.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.