READ FIRST TIME 04/7/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to community revitalization financing; amending RCW 39.89.020, 39.89.030, 39.89.050, 39.89.060, 39.89.070, and 39.89.080; adding new sections to chapter 39.89 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 82.14 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.32 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 101   The legislature recognizes that the state as a whole benefits from investment in public infrastructure because it promotes community and economic development. Public investment stimulates business activity and helps create jobs; stimulates the redevelopment of brownfields and blighted areas in the inner city; lowers the cost of housing; and promotes efficient land use. The legislature finds that these activities generate revenue for the state and that it is in the public interest to invest in these projects through a credit against the state sales and use tax to those local governments that can demonstrate the expected returns to the state.

Sec. 102   RCW 39.89.020 and 2001 c 212 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Assessed value of real property" means the valuation of real property as placed on the last completed assessment roll.
     (2) "Department" means the department of revenue.
     (3) "Increment area" means the geographic area from which taxes are to be appropriated to finance public improvements authorized under this chapter.
     (4) "Increment value" means seventy-five percent of any increase in the assessed value of real property in an increment area that is placed on the assessment rolls after the increment area is created. There is no increment value if the assessed value of real property in an increment area is less than or equal to the assessed value of real property in the increment area for taxes levied in the year in which the increment area was created for collection in the following year.
     (5) "Local government" means any city, town, county, port district, or any combination thereof.
     (((3))) (6) "Ordinance" means any appropriate method of taking legislative action by a local government.
     (((4))) (7) "Participating taxing authority" means a taxing authority that has entered into a written agreement with a local government for the use of community revitalization financing to finance all or a portion of the costs of designated public improvements.
     (8) "Participating taxing district" means all taxing districts within an increment area where a local government has obtained written agreement for the use of community revitalization financing to finance all or a portion of the costs of designated public improvements as provided in RCW 39.89.030(8). However, a fire protection district is not a participating taxing district unless it has entered into a signed, written agreement with a local government to provide limited funding under community revitalization financing as provided in RCW 39.89.030(8)(a).
     (9) "Public improvements" means:
     (a) Infrastructure improvements within the increment area that include:
     (i) Street and road construction and maintenance;
     (ii) Water and sewer system construction and improvements;
     (iii) Sidewalks and streetlights;
     (iv) Parking, terminal, and dock facilities;
     (v) Park and ride facilities of a transit authority;
     (vi) Park facilities and recreational areas; and
     (vii) Storm water and drainage management systems; and
     (b) Expenditures for any of the following purposes:
     (i) Providing environmental analysis, professional management, planning, and promotion within the increment area, including the management and promotion of retail trade activities in the increment area;
     (ii) Providing maintenance and security for common or public areas in the increment area; or
     (iii) Historic preservation activities authorized under RCW 35.21.395.
     (((5))) (10) "Public improvement costs" means the costs of: (a) Design, planning, acquisition, including land acquisition, site preparation including land clearing, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement, and installation of public improvements; (b) demolishing, relocating, maintaining, and operating property pending construction of public improvements; (c) relocating utilities as a result of public improvements; (d) financing public improvements, including interest during construction, legal and other professional services, taxes, insurance, principal and interest costs on general indebtedness issued to finance public improvements, and any necessary reserves for general indebtedness; (e) assessments incurred in revaluing real property for the purpose of determining the tax allocation base value that are in excess of costs incurred by the assessor in accordance with the revaluation plan under chapter 84.41 RCW, and the costs of apportioning the taxes and complying with this chapter and other applicable law; and (f) administrative expenses and feasibility studies reasonably necessary and related to these costs, including related costs that may have been incurred before adoption of the ordinance authorizing the public improvements and the use of community revitalization financing to fund the costs of the public improvements.
     (((6))) (11) "Regular property taxes" means regular property taxes as defined in RCW 84.04.140, except: (a) Regular property taxes levied by port districts or public utility districts specifically for the purpose of making required payments of principal and interest on general indebtedness; ((and)) (b) regular property taxes levied by the state for the support of the common schools under RCW 84.52.065; and (c) regular property taxes levied under the authority of RCW 84.55.050 that are limited to a specific purpose as provided in RCW 84.55.050(3)(b). Regular property taxes do not include excess property tax levies that are exempt from the aggregate limits for junior and senior taxing districts as provided in RCW 84.52.043.
     (((7))) (12) "Tax allocation base value" means the ((true and fair)) assessed value of real property located within an increment area for taxes ((imposed)) levied in the year in which the increment area is created for collection in the following year, plus twenty-five percent of any increase in the ((true and fair)) assessed value of real property located within an increment area that is placed on the assessment rolls after the increment area is created.
     (((8))) (13) "Tax allocation revenues" means those tax revenues derived from the ((imposition of)) receipt of excess excise taxes under section 202 of this act and from regular property taxes levied on the increment value and distributed to finance public improvements.
     (((9) "Increment area" means the geographic area from which taxes are to be appropriated to finance public improvements authorized under this chapter.
     (10) "Increment value" means seventy-five percent of any increase in the true and fair value of real property in an increment area that is placed on the tax rolls after the increment area is created.
     (11))) (14) "Taxing authority" means a governmental entity that imposes a sales or use tax under chapter 82.14 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable event within a proposed or approved increment area.
     (15) "Taxing district((s))" means a governmental entity that levies or has levied for it regular property taxes upon real property located within a proposed or approved increment area.
     (((12))) (16) "Value of taxable property" means the value of the taxable property as defined in RCW 39.36.015.

Sec. 103   RCW 39.89.030 and 2002 c 12 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     A local government may finance public improvements using community revitalization financing subject to the following conditions:
     (1) The local government adopts an ordinance designating an increment area within its boundaries and specifying the public improvements proposed to be financed in whole or in part with the use of community revitalization financing;
     (2) The public improvements proposed to be financed in whole or in part using community revitalization financing are expected to encourage private development within the increment area and to increase the fair market value of real property within the increment area;
     (3) The local government has entered or expects to enter into a contract with a private developer relating to the development of private improvements within the increment area or has received a letter of intent from a private developer relating to the developer's plans for the development of private improvements within the increment area;
     (4) Private development that is anticipated to occur within the increment area, as a result of the public improvements, will be consistent with the countywide planning policy adopted by the county under RCW 36.70A.210 and the local government's comprehensive plan and development regulations adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW;
     (((4) Taxing districts, in the aggregate, that levy at least seventy-five percent of the regular property tax within which the increment area is located approves the community revitalization financing of the project under RCW 39.89.050(1); and
     (5) In an increment area that includes any portion of a fire protection district as defined in Title 52 RCW, the fire protection district must agree to participate in the community revitalization financing of the project under chapter 212, Laws of 2001, for the project to proceed. Approval by the fire protection district shall be considered as part of the required participation by taxing districts under subsection (4) of this section)) (5) The local government may not use community revitalization financing to finance the costs associated with the financing, design, acquisition, construction, equipping, operating, maintaining, remodeling, repairing, and reequipping of public facilities funded with taxes collected under RCW 82.14.048;
     (6) The governing body of the local government must make a finding that community revitalization financing: (a) Will not be used for the purpose of relocating a business from outside the increment area, but within this state, into the increment area; and (b) will improve the viability of existing business entities within the increment area; and (c) will be used exclusively in areas within the jurisdiction of the local government deemed in need of economic development and/or redevelopment and absent the financing available under this act that the proposed economic development and/or redevelopment would not occur;
     (7) The governing body of the local government finds that the public improvements proposed to be financed in whole or in part using community revitalization financing are reasonably likely to:
     (a) Increase private investment within the increment area;
     (b) Increase employment within the increment area; and
     (c) Generate, over the period of time that the local sales and use tax will be imposed under section 301 of this act, state and local property, sales, and use tax revenues that are equal to or greater than the respective state and local contributions made under this chapter;
     (8) The local government obtains written agreement for the use of community revitalization financing to finance all or a portion of the costs of the designated public improvements from taxing districts that in the aggregate levy at least sixty percent of the regular property taxes on property within the increment area. The agreement must be authorized by the governing body of taxing districts that in the aggregate levy at least sixty percent of the regular property taxes on property within the increment area.
     (a) A signed, written agreement from taxing districts that in the aggregate levy at least sixty percent of the regular property taxes within the increment area constitutes concurrence by all taxing districts in the increment area in the public improvements and participation in the public improvements to the extent of providing limited funding under community revitalization financing authorized under this chapter. However, a fire protection district may choose not to participate in the public improvements by providing written notice to the local government of its decision not to provide limited funding under community revitalization financing.
     (b) For purposes of this subsection (8), "regular property taxes" means regular property taxes defined in RCW 84.04.140, except: (i) Regular property taxes levied by the state; and (ii) regular property taxes levied by a fire protection district if the fire protection district has not entered into a signed, written agreement with a local government to provide limited funding under community revitalization financing as provided in (a) of this subsection.

Sec. 104   RCW 39.89.050 and 2001 c 212 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Before adopting an ordinance creating the increment area, a local government must:
     (((1))) (a) Obtain written agreement for the use of community revitalization financing to finance all or a portion of the costs of the designated public improvements from taxing districts ((that, in the aggregate, levy at least seventy-five percent of the regular property tax on property within the increment area. A signed, written agreement from taxing districts that in the aggregate levy at least seventy-five percent of the regular property tax within the increment area, constitutes concurrence by all taxing districts in the increment area in the public improvement and participation in the public improvement to the extent of providing limited funding under community revitalization financing authorized under this chapter. The agreement must be authorized by the governing body of taxing districts that in the aggregate levy at least seventy-five percent of the regular property tax on property within the increment area)) as provided in RCW 39.89.030(8); and
     (((2))) (b) Hold a public hearing on the proposed financing of the public improvement in whole or in part with community revitalization financing.

     (i) Notice of the public hearing must be published in a legal newspaper of general circulation within the proposed increment area at least ten days before the public hearing and posted in at least six conspicuous public places located in the proposed increment area.
     (ii) Notice must also be sent by United States mail to the property owners and the business enterprises located within the proposed increment area at least thirty days prior to the hearing. In implementing provisions under this act, the local governing body may also consult with business organizations, including the local chamber of commerce, and the office of minority and women's business enterprises to assist with providing appropriate notice to business enterprises and property owners for whom English is a second language.
     (iii) Notices must describe the contemplated public improvements, estimate the costs of the public improvements, describe the portion of the costs of the public improvements to be borne by community revitalization financing, describe any other sources of revenue to finance the public improvements, describe the boundaries of the proposed increment area, and estimate the period during which community revitalization financing is contemplated to be used. The public hearing may be held by either the governing body of the local government, or a committee of the governing body that includes at least a majority of the whole governing body((; and)).
     (((3))) (2) In order to create an increment area, a local government must adopt an ordinance establishing the increment area that:
     (a) Describes the public improvements((,));
     (b) Describes the boundaries of the increment area((,));
     (c) Estimates the cost of the public improvements and the portion of these costs to be financed by community revitalization financing((,));
     (d) Estimates the time during which regular property taxes are to be apportioned((,)) and, if applicable, excess excise taxes are to be used to finance public improvement costs associated with the public improvements financed in whole or in part by community revitalization financing;
     (e) Estimates the average amount of tax revenue to be received in all fiscal years through the imposition of a sales and use tax under section 301 of this act;
     (f) Provides the date when the apportionment of the regular property taxes and, if applicable, the use of excess excise taxes will commence((,)); and
     (g) Finds that the conditions of RCW 39.89.030 are met.
     (3) For purposes of this section, "fiscal year" means the year beginning July 1st and ending the following June 30th.

Sec. 105   RCW 39.89.060 and 2001 c 212 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     The local government shall:
     (1) Publish notice in a legal newspaper of general circulation within the increment area that describes the public improvement, describes the boundaries of the increment area, and identifies the location and times where the ordinance and other public information concerning the public improvement may be inspected; and
     (2) Deliver a certified copy of the ordinance to the county treasurer, the county assessor, and the governing body of each participating taxing district within which the increment area is located.

Sec. 201   RCW 39.89.070 and 2001 c 212 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Commencing in the second calendar year following the passage of the ordinance creating an increment area and authorizing the use of community revitalization financing, the county treasurer shall distribute receipts from regular taxes imposed on real property located in the increment area as follows:
     (a) Each participating taxing district and the local government that created the increment area shall receive that portion of its regular property taxes produced by the rate of tax levied by or for the taxing district on the tax allocation base value for that community revitalization financing project in the taxing district, or upon the total assessed value of real property in the taxing district, whichever is smaller; and
     (b) The local government that created the increment area shall receive an additional portion of the regular property taxes levied by it and by or for each participating taxing district upon the increment value within the increment area. However, if there is no increment value, the local government shall not receive any additional regular property taxes under this subsection (1)(b). The local government that created the increment area may agree to receive less than the full amount of ((this)) the additional portion of regular property taxes under this subsection (1)(b) as long as bond debt service, reserve, and other bond covenant requirements are satisfied, in which case the balance of these tax receipts shall be allocated to the participating taxing districts that imposed regular property taxes, or have regular property taxes imposed for them, in the increment area for collection that year in proportion to their regular tax levy rates for collection that year. The local government may request that the treasurer transfer this additional portion of the property taxes to its designated agent. The portion of the tax receipts distributed to the local government or its agent under this subsection (1)(b) may only be expended to finance public improvement costs associated with the public improvements financed in whole or in part by community revitalization financing.
     (2) The county assessor shall allocate twenty-five percent of any increased real property value occurring in the increment area to the tax allocation base value and seventy-five percent to the increment value. This section does not authorize revaluations of real property by the assessor for property taxation that are not made in accordance with the assessor's revaluation plan under chapter 84.41 RCW or under other authorized revaluation procedures.
     (3) The apportionment of increases in assessed valuation in an increment area, and the associated distribution to the local government of receipts from regular property taxes that are imposed on the increment value, must cease when tax allocation revenues are no longer necessary or obligated to pay the costs of the public improvements. Any excess tax allocation revenues derived from regular property taxes and earnings on ((the)) such tax allocation revenues, remaining at the time the apportionment of tax receipts terminates, must be returned to the county treasurer and distributed to the participating taxing districts that imposed regular property taxes, or had regular property taxes imposed for it, in the increment area for collection that year, in proportion to the rates of their regular property tax levies for collection that year.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 202   A new section is added to chapter 39.89 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A local government that creates an increment area and has received approval from the department of revenue under section 303 of this act to impose the local option sales and use tax authorized in section 301 of this act may use annually any excess excise taxes received by it from taxable activity within the increment area to finance public improvement costs associated with the public improvements financed in whole or in part by community revitalization financing. The use of excess excise taxes must cease when tax allocation revenues are no longer necessary or obligated to pay the costs of the public improvements. Any participating taxing authority is authorized to allocate excess excise taxes to the local government. The legislature declares that it is a proper purpose of a local government or participating taxing authority to allocate excess excise taxes for purposes of financing public improvements under this chapter.
     (2) A local government consisting solely of a port district may use excess excise taxes as provided in this section only to the extent that any participating taxing authority allocates excess excise taxes to the local government.
     (3) A local government consisting of a port district and any city, town, or county may use excess excise taxes as provided in this section only if:
     (a) The city, town, or county realizes excess excise taxes from taxable activity within the increment area; or
     (b) Any participating taxing authority allocates excess excise taxes to the local government.
     (4) A local government shall provide the department accurate information describing the geographical boundaries of the increment area at least seventy-five days before the effective date of the ordinance creating the increment area. The local government shall ensure that the boundary information provided to the department is kept current.
     (5) The department shall provide each local government that has provided boundary information to the department as provided in this section with the necessary information to calculate excess excise taxes.
     (6) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Base year" means the first calendar year following the creation of an increment area.
     (b) "Excess excise taxes" means the amount of excise taxes received by the local government during the measurement year from taxable activity within the increment area over and above the amount of excise taxes received by the local government during the base year from taxable activity within the increment area. However, if a local government creates an increment area and reasonably determines that no activity subject to tax under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW occurred in the twelve months immediately preceding the creation of the increment area within the boundaries of the area that became the increment area, "excess excise taxes" means the entire amount of excise taxes received by the local government during a calendar year period beginning with the calendar year immediately following the creation of the increment area and continuing with each measurement year thereafter.
     (c) "Excise taxes" means local retail sales and use taxes authorized in RCW 82.14.030.
     (d) "Measurement year" means a calendar year, beginning with the calendar year following the base year and each calendar year thereafter, that is used annually to measure the amount of excess excise taxes required to be used to finance public improvement costs associated with public improvements financed in whole or in part by community revitalization financing.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 301   A new section is added to chapter 82.14 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A city, town, or county that creates an increment area and finances public improvements pursuant to chapter 39.89 RCW may impose a sales and use tax in accordance with the terms of this chapter and subject to the criteria set forth in this section. Except as provided in this section, the tax is in addition to other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected from those persons who are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable event within the taxing jurisdiction of the city, town, or county. The rate of tax shall not exceed the rate provided in RCW 82.08.020(1) in the case of a sales tax or the rate provided in RCW 82.12.020(5) in the case of a use tax, less the aggregate rates of any other taxes imposed on the same events that are credited against the state taxes imposed under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW.
     (2) The tax imposed under subsection (1) of this section shall be deducted from the amount of tax otherwise required to be collected or paid over to the department under chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW. The department shall perform the collection of such taxes on behalf of the city, town, or county at no cost to the city, town, or county.
     (3) No tax may be imposed under this section before July 1, 2005. Before imposing a tax under this section, the city, town, or county shall first have received tax allocation revenues derived from either regular property taxes or excess excise taxes, or both, during the preceding calendar year. The tax imposed under this section shall expire when the bonds issued under the authority of chapter 39.89 RCW are retired, but not more than twenty-five years after the tax is first imposed.
     (4) An ordinance adopted by the legislative authority of a city, town, or county imposing a tax under this section shall provide that:
     (a) The tax shall first be imposed on the first day of a fiscal year.
     (b) The amount of tax received by the local government in any fiscal year shall not exceed the amount of the state contribution;
     (c) The tax shall cease to be imposed for the remainder of any fiscal year in which either:
     (i) The amount of tax receipts totals the amount of the state contribution;
     (ii) The amount of tax receipts totals the amount of "local public sources," as that term is used in section 302 of this act, dedicated in the previous calendar year to finance public improvements authorized under chapter 39.89 RCW; or
     (iii) The amount of revenue from taxes imposed under this section by all cities, towns, and counties totals the annual state credit limit as provided in section 303(3) of this act;
     (d) The tax shall be reimposed, should it cease to be imposed for any of the reasons provided in (c) of this subsection, at the beginning of the next fiscal year, subject to the restrictions in this section; and
     (e) Any revenue generated by the tax in excess of the amounts specified in (a), (b), and (c) of this subsection shall belong to the state of Washington.
     (5) If both a county and a city or town impose a tax under this section, the tax imposed by the city, town, or county shall be credited as follows:
     (a) If the county has created an increment area before the city or town, the tax imposed by the county shall be credited against the tax imposed by the city or town, the purpose of such credit is to give priority to the county tax; and
     (b) If the city or town has created an increment area before the county, the tax imposed by the city or town shall be credited against the tax imposed by the county, the purpose of such credit is to give priority to the city or town tax.
     (6) The department shall determine the amount of tax receipts attributable to each city, town, and county imposing a sales and use tax under this section and shall advise a city, town, or county when it must cease imposing the tax for the remainder of the fiscal year as provided in subsection (4)(c) of this section. Determinations by the department of the amount of taxes attributable to a city, town, or county are final and shall not be used to challenge the validity of any tax imposed under this section. The department shall remit any tax receipts in excess of the amounts specified in subsection (4)(a), (b), and (c) of this section to the state treasurer who shall deposit the moneys in the general fund.
     (7) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Base year" means the first calendar year following the creation of an increment area.
     (b) "Excess state excise taxes" means the amount of excise taxes received by the state during the measurement year from taxable activity within the increment area over and above the amount of excise taxes received by the state during the base year from taxable activity within the increment area. However, if a local government creates an increment area and reasonably determines that no activity subject to tax under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW occurred in the twelve months immediately preceding the creation of the increment area within the boundaries of the area that became the increment area, "excess state excise taxes" means the entire amount of excise taxes received by the state during a calendar year period beginning with the calendar year immediately following the creation of the increment area and continuing with each measurement year thereafter.
     (c) "Excise taxes" means the state retail sales and use taxes imposed under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW.
     (d) "Fiscal year" has the same meaning as in RCW 39.89.050(3).
     (e) "Increment area" has the same meaning as in RCW 39.89.020.
     (f) "Measurement year" means a calendar year, beginning with the calendar year following the base year and each calendar year thereafter, that is used annually to measure the amount of excess excise taxes required to be used to finance public improvement costs associated with public improvements financed in whole or in part by community revitalization financing.
     (g) "State contribution" means the lesser of one million dollars or an amount equal to:
     (i) State property tax allocation revenues received by the state during the preceding calendar year; and
     (ii) Excess state excise taxes received by the state during the preceding calendar year.
     (h) "State property tax allocation revenues" means those tax revenues derived from the imposition of property taxes levied by the state on the increment value as defined in RCW 39.89.020.
     (i) "Tax allocation revenues" has the same meaning as in RCW 39.89.020.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 302   A new section is added to chapter 82.14 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Moneys collected from the taxes imposed under section 301 of this act shall be used only for the purpose of principal and interest payments on bonds issued under the authority of RCW 39.89.080 and must be matched with an amount from local public sources dedicated through December 31st of the previous calendar year to finance public improvements authorized under chapter 39.89 RCW. Such local public sources include but are not limited to private monetary contributions and tax allocation revenues. Local public sources are dedicated to finance public improvements if they are actually expended to pay public improvement costs or are required by law or an agreement to be used exclusively to pay public improvement costs.
     (2) A local government shall inform the department by the first day of March of the amount of:
     (a) Local public sources dedicated in the preceding calendar year to finance public improvements authorized under chapter 39.89 RCW; and
     (b) Tax allocation revenues derived in the preceding calendar year from the imposition of regular property taxes on the increment value and distributed to finance public improvements. Upon request of a local government, the county assessor shall assist the local government in determining the amount of tax allocation revenues derived in the preceding calendar year and distributed to finance public improvements.
     (3) If a local government fails to comply with subsection (2) of this section, no tax may be imposed under section 301 of this act in the subsequent fiscal year.
     (4) A local government shall provide a report to the department by March 1st of each year. The report shall contain the following information:
     (a) The amount of tax allocation revenues, taxes under section 301 of this act, and local public sources received by the local government during the preceding calendar year, and a summary of how these revenues were expended;
     (b) The names of any businesses locating within the increment area as a result of the public improvements undertaken by the local government and financed in whole or in part with community revitalization financing;
     (c) The total number of permanent jobs created as a result of the public improvements undertaken by the local government and financed in whole or in part with community revitalization financing;
     (d) The average wages and benefits received by all employees of businesses locating within the increment area as a result of the public improvements undertaken by the local government and financed in whole or in part with community revitalization financing;
     (e) That the local government is in compliance with RCW 39.89.030(6)(c).
     (5) The department shall make a report available to the public and the legislature by June 1st of each year. The report shall include a list of public improvements undertaken by local governments and financed in whole or in part with community revitalization financing, and it shall also include a summary of the information provided to the department by local governments under subsection (4) of this section.
     (6) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Public improvement costs" has the same meaning as in RCW 39.89.020.
     (b) "Tax allocation revenues" has the same meaning as in RCW 39.89.020.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 303   A new section is added to chapter 82.32 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) As a condition to imposing a sales and use tax under section 301 of this act, a city, town, or county must apply to the department at least seventy-five days before the effective date of any such tax. The application shall be in a form and manner prescribed by the department and shall include but is not limited to information establishing that the applicant is eligible to impose such a tax, the anticipated effective date for imposing the tax, the estimated number of years that the tax will be imposed, and the estimated amount of tax revenue to be received in each fiscal year that the tax will be imposed. For purposes of this section, "fiscal year" means the year beginning July 1st and ending the following June 30th. The department shall make available forms to be used for this purpose. As part of the application, a city, town, or county must provide to the department a copy of the ordinance creating the increment area as required in RCW 39.89.050. The department shall rule on completed applications within sixty days of receipt. No new applications shall be considered by the department after the thirtieth day of September of the third year following the year in which the first application was received.
     (2) The authority to impose the local option sales and use taxes under section 301 of this act is on a first-come basis. Priority for collecting the taxes authorized under section 301 of this act among approved applicants shall be based on the date that the approved application was received by the department. As a part of the approval of applications under this section, the department shall approve the amount of tax under section 301 of this act that an applicant may impose. The amount of tax approved by the department shall not exceed the lesser of one million dollars or the average amount of tax revenue that the applicant estimates that it will receive in all fiscal years through the imposition of a sales and use tax under section 301 of this act. A city, town, or county shall not receive, in any fiscal year, more revenues from taxes imposed under section 301 of this act than the amount approved by the department. The department shall not approve the receipt of more credit against the state sales and use tax than is authorized under subsection (3) of this section.
     (3) The amount of credit against the state sales and use tax is limited as follows:
     (a) Except as provided in this subsection (3), no more than five million dollars of credit against the state sales and use tax may be received by all cities, towns, and counties imposing a tax under section 301 of this act.
     (b) During the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2009, the total amount of credit against the state sales and use tax that may be received by all cities, towns, and counties imposing a tax under section 301 of this act shall be increased as follows:
     (i) In the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006, the limit in (a) of this subsection shall be increased by the same percentage as the percentage increase in the assessed value of all property within this state from calendar year 2003 through calendar year 2004, as determined by the department;
     (ii) In the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, the limit in (a) of this subsection shall be increased by the same percentage as the percentage increase in the assessed value of all property within this state from calendar year 2003 through calendar year 2005, as determined by the department;
     (iii) In the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, and for each subsequent fiscal year, the limit in (a) of this subsection shall be increased by the same percentage as the percentage increase in the assessed value of all property within this state from calendar year 2003 through calendar year 2006, as determined by the department.
     (4) The credit against the state sales and use tax shall be available to any city, town, or county imposing a tax under section 301 of this act only as long as the city, town, or county has outstanding indebtedness under RCW 39.89.080.
     (5) The department may adopt any rules under chapter 34.05 RCW it considers necessary for the administration of sections 202 through 303 of this act.

Sec. 401   RCW 39.89.080 and 2001 c 212 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A local government designating an increment area and authorizing the use of community revitalization financing may incur general indebtedness, and issue general obligation bonds, to finance the public improvements and retire the indebtedness in whole or in part from tax allocation revenues it receives, subject to the following requirements:
     (a) The ordinance adopted by the local government creating the increment area and authorizing the use of community revitalization financing indicates an intent to incur this indebtedness and the maximum amount of this indebtedness that is contemplated; and
     (b) The local government includes this statement of the intent in all notices required by RCW 39.89.050.
     (2) The general indebtedness incurred under subsection (1) of this section may be payable from other tax revenues, the full faith and credit of the local government, and nontax income, revenues, fees, and rents from the public improvements, as well as contributions, grants, and nontax money available to the local government for payment of costs of the public improvements or associated debt service on the general indebtedness.
     (3) In addition to the requirements in subsection (1) of this section, a local government designating an increment area and authorizing the use of community revitalization financing may require the nonpublic participant to provide adequate security to protect the public investment in the public improvement within the increment area.
     (4) Bonds issued under this section shall be authorized by ordinance of the local governing body and may be issued in one or more series and shall bear such date or dates, be payable upon demand or mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denomination or denominations, be in such form either coupon or registered as provided in RCW 39.46.030, carry such conversion or registration privileges, have such rank or priority, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment, at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption with or without premium, be secured in such manner, and have such other characteristics, as may be provided by such ordinance or trust indenture or mortgage issued pursuant thereto.
     (5) The local government may annually pay into a fund to be established for the benefit of bonds issued under this section a fixed proportion or a fixed amount of any tax allocation revenues derived from property or business activity within the increment area containing the public improvements funded by the bonds, such payment to continue until all bonds payable from the fund are paid in full. The local government may also annually pay into the fund established in this section a fixed proportion or a fixed amount of any revenues derived from taxes imposed under section 301 of this act, such payment to continue until all bonds payable from the fund are paid in full. Revenues derived from taxes imposed under section 301 of this act are subject to the use restriction in section 302 of this act.
     (6) In case any of the public officials of the local government whose signatures appear on any bonds or any coupons issued under this chapter shall cease to be such officials before the delivery of such bonds, such signatures shall, nevertheless, be valid and sufficient for all purposes, the same as if such officials had remained in office until such delivery. Any provision of any law to the contrary notwithstanding, any bonds issued under this chapter are fully negotiable.
     (7) Notwithstanding subsections (4) through (6) of this section, bonds issued under this section may be issued and sold in accordance with chapter 39.46 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 402   A new section is added to chapter 39.89 RCW to read as follows:
     A local government that issues bonds under RCW 39.89.080 to finance public improvements may pledge for the payment of such bonds all or part of any tax allocation revenues derived from the public improvements. The local government may also pledge all or part of any revenues derived from taxes imposed under section 301 of this act and held in connection with the public improvements. All of such tax revenues are subject to the use restriction in section 302 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 403   A new section is added to chapter 39.89 RCW to read as follows:
     The bonds issued by a local government under RCW 39.89.080 to finance public improvements shall not constitute an obligation of the state of Washington, either general or special.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 501   If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 502   Part headings used in this act do not constitute any part of the law.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 503   Nothing in this act shall be construed to give port districts the authority to impose a sales or use tax under chapter 82.14 RCW.