Title: An act relating to disbursement of the metropolitan park district fund.

Brief Description: Modifying disbursement of the metropolitan park district fund.

Sponsors: By Representatives Takko, Orcutt, Dunn and Fromhold.

Brief History:

Local Government: 1/23/06, 1/30/06 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/8/06, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Simpson, Chair; Clibborn, Vice Chair; Schindler, Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; B. Sullivan, Takko and Woods.

Staff: Kasa Tupua (786-7291).

Background:

A metropolitan park district (MPD) is a type of special purpose district that may be created for the management, control, improvement, maintenance, and/or acquisition of parks, parkways, boulevards, and recreational facilities. A MPD may include territory located in portions or in all of one or more cities or counties.

A MPD may impose two separate regular property tax levies on all property located in the district: (1) a levy not to exceed $.50 per $1,000 of assessed value; and (2) a levy not to exceed $.25 per $1,000 of assessed value. Similar to other taxing district levies, the MPD levies are subject to the statutory 1 percent growth rate limit on property taxes.

Proper county officials are designated to collect this levy or these levies, and place the funds in the Metropolitan Park District Fund. These funds are paid out on warrants.

Summary of Bill:

County treasurers are authorized to disburse the metropolitan park district funds through electronic funds transfers and warrants issued.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Eliminating the requirement that County Treasurers are to only distribute park district funds by warrant cleans up the statute so that the treasurers would use the two main statutes for disbursing funds: county treasurer general duties; and disbursement through electronic funds transfers and warrants issued.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Takko, prime sponsor; and Doug Lasher, Clark County Treasurer.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.