BILL REQ. #: S-0051.1
State of Washington | 58th Legislature | 2003 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/15/2003. Referred to Committee on Land Use & Planning.
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:
THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the
secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state
for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to
Article VII, section 1 of the Constitution of the state of Washington
to read as follows:
Article VII, section 1. The power of taxation shall never be
suspended, surrendered or contracted away. All taxes shall be uniform
upon the same class of property within the territorial limits of the
authority levying the tax and shall be levied and collected for public
purposes only. However, the legislature, through appropriate
legislation, may reduce the value of real estate subject to taxation by
amounts expended on mitigation fees, impact fees, or system improvement
charges paid by the owner of the real estate. The word "property" as
used herein shall mean and include everything, whether tangible or
intangible, subject to ownership. All real estate shall constitute one
class: Provided, That the legislature may tax mines and mineral
resources and lands devoted to reforestation by either a yield tax or
an ad valorem tax at such rate as it may fix, or by both. Such
property as the legislature may by general laws provide shall be exempt
from taxation. Property of the United States and of the state,
counties, school districts and other municipal corporations, and
credits secured by property actually taxed in this state, not exceeding
in value the value of such property, shall be exempt from taxation.
The legislature shall have power, by appropriate legislation, to exempt
personal property to the amount of three thousand ($3,000.00) dollars
for each head of a family liable to assessment and taxation under the
provisions of the laws of this state of which the individual is the
actual bona fide owner.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause
notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four
times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal
newspaper in the state.