BILL REQ. #:  H-1738.2 

Read first time 02/15/2007.   Referred to Committee on Finance.

     AN ACT Relating to limiting property taxes by reducing the state levy, limiting property tax increases to one percent by reenacting the provisions of Initiative Measure No. 747, and allowing valuation increases to be spread over time; amending RCW 84.04.030, 84.40.020, 84.40.030, 84.40.040, 84.40.045, 84.41.041, 84.48.010, 84.48.065, 84.48.075, 84.48.080, 84.12.270, 84.12.280, 84.12.310, 84.12.330, 84.12.350, 84.12.360, 84.16.040, 84.16.050, 84.16.090, 84.16.110, 84.16.120, 84.36.041, 84.52.063, and 84.70.010; reenacting RCW 84.55.005 and 84.55.0101; adding a new section to chapter 84.69 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 84.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 84.40 RCW; creating new sections; providing a contingent effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 101   A new section is added to chapter 84.69 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department of revenue shall issue a refund check to all eligible real property owners who paid state property taxes in 2006. The refund is equal to four hundred dollars for each eligible real property owner. The department of revenue may use information from the tax rolls of each county to identify all eligible real property owners under this section. Any such refunds shall be made by means of vouchers approved by the department of revenue and by the issuance of state warrants drawn upon and payable from such funds as the legislature may provide.
     (2)(a) For the purposes of this section, "eligible real property owner" means a person who paid state property taxes imposed upon a residence owned and occupied by the person as a principal place of residence in calendar year 2006.
     (b) For the purposes of this section, the terms "residence," "owned," and "occupied" have meanings consistent with their meanings in RCW 84.36.379 through 84.36.389.
     (3) Any eligible real property owner may return the state property tax rebate check to the department of revenue indicating that the owner wishes to have the rebate check spent on any of the following state government services:

Sec. 201   RCW 84.55.005 and 2002 c 1 s 2 are each reenacted to read as follows:
     As used in this chapter:
     (1) "Inflation" means the percentage change in the implicit price deflator for personal consumption expenditures for the United States as published for the most recent twelve-month period by the bureau of economic analysis of the federal department of commerce in September of the year before the taxes are payable;
     (2) "Limit factor" means:
     (a) For taxing districts with a population of less than ten thousand in the calendar year prior to the assessment year, one hundred one percent;
     (b) For taxing districts for which a limit factor is authorized under RCW 84.55.0101, the lesser of the limit factor under that section or one hundred one percent;
     (c) For all other districts, the lesser of one hundred one percent or one hundred percent plus inflation; and
     (3) "Regular property taxes" has the meaning given it in RCW 84.04.140.

Sec. 202   RCW 84.55.0101 and 2002 c 1 s 3 are each reenacted to read as follows:
     Upon a finding of substantial need, the legislative authority of a taxing district other than the state may provide for the use of a limit factor under this chapter of one hundred one percent or less unless an increase greater than this limit is approved by the voters at an election as provided in RCW 84.55.050. In districts with legislative authorities of four members or less, two-thirds of the members must approve an ordinance or resolution under this section. In districts with more than four members, a majority plus one vote must approve an ordinance or resolution under this section. The new limit factor shall be effective for taxes collected in the following year only.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 301   A new section is added to chapter 84.04 RCW to read as follows:
     "Appraised value of property" means the aggregate true and fair value of the property as last determined by the county assessor according to the revaluation program approved under chapter 84.41 RCW, including revaluations based on statistical data between physical inspections.

Sec. 302   RCW 84.04.030 and 2001 c 187 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     "Assessed value of property" shall be held and construed to mean the aggregate valuation of the property subject to taxation by any taxing district as determined under section 305 of this act, reduced by the value of any applicable exemptions under RCW 84.36.381 or other law, and placed on the last completed and balanced tax rolls of the county preceding the date of any tax levy.

Sec. 303   RCW 84.40.020 and 2005 c 274 s 364 are each amended to read as follows:
     All real property in this state subject to taxation shall be listed and assessed every year, with reference to its appraised and assessed values on the first day of January of the year in which it is assessed. Such listing and all supporting documents and records shall be open to public inspection during the regular office hours of the assessor's office: PROVIDED, That confidential income data is hereby exempted from public inspection as noted in RCW 42.56.070 and ((42.56.210)) 42.56.230. All personal property in this state subject to taxation shall be listed and assessed every year, with reference to its value and ownership on the first day of January of the year in which it is assessed: PROVIDED, That if the stock of goods, wares, merchandise or material, whether in a raw or finished state or in process of manufacture, owned or held by any taxpayer on January 1 of any year does not fairly represent the average stock carried by such taxpayer, such stock shall be listed and assessed upon the basis of the monthly average of stock owned or held by such taxpayer during the preceding calendar year or during such portion thereof as the taxpayer was engaged in business.

Sec. 304   RCW 84.40.030 and 2001 c 187 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:
     All personal property shall be valued at one hundred percent of its true and fair value in money and assessed on the same basis unless specifically provided otherwise by law.
     All real property shall be appraised at one hundred percent of its true and fair value in money and assessed as provided in section 305 of this act unless specifically provided otherwise by law.
     Taxable leasehold estates shall be valued at such price as they would bring at a fair, voluntary sale for cash without any deductions for any indebtedness owed including rentals to be paid.
     The true and fair value of real property for taxation purposes (including property upon which there is a coal or other mine, or stone or other quarry) shall be based upon the following criteria:
     (1) Any sales of the property being appraised or similar properties with respect to sales made within the past five years. The appraisal shall be consistent with the comprehensive land use plan, development regulations under chapter 36.70A RCW, zoning, and any other governmental policies or practices in effect at the time of appraisal that affect the use of property, as well as physical and environmental influences. An assessment may not be determined by a method that assumes a land usage not permitted, for that property being appraised, under existing zoning or land use planning ordinances or statutes. The appraisal shall also take into account: (a) In the use of sales by real estate contract as similar sales, the extent, if any, to which the stated selling price has been increased by reason of the down payment, interest rate, or other financing terms; and (b) the extent to which the sale of a similar property actually represents the general effective market demand for property of such type, in the geographical area in which such property is located. Sales involving deed releases or similar seller-developer financing arrangements shall not be used as sales of similar property.
     (2) In addition to sales as defined in subsection (1) of this section, consideration may be given to cost, cost less depreciation, reconstruction cost less depreciation, or capitalization of income that would be derived from prudent use of the property. In the case of property of a complex nature, or being used under terms of a franchise from a public agency, or operating as a public utility, or property not having a record of sale within five years and not having a significant number of sales of similar property in the general area, the provisions of this subsection shall be the dominant factors in valuation. When provisions of this subsection are relied upon for establishing values the property owner shall be advised upon request of the factors used in arriving at such value.
     (3) In valuing any tract or parcel of real property, the true and fair value of the land, exclusive of structures thereon shall be determined; also the true and fair value of structures thereon, but the valuation shall not exceed the true and fair value of the total property as it exists. In valuing agricultural land, growing crops shall be excluded.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 305   A new section is added to chapter 84.40 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) As used in this section:
     (a) "Previous assessed value" means the assessed value for the year immediately preceding the year for which a calculation is being made under this section.
     (b) "Current appraised value" means the appraised value for the year for which a calculation is being made under this section.
     (c) "Total value increase" means the current appraised value minus the previous assessed value. Total value increase can never be less than zero.
     (d) "Improvement increase" means the portion of the total value increase attributable to any physical improvements made to the property since the previous assessment, other than improvements exempt under RCW 84.36.400 for the year for which a calculation is being made under this section. Improvement increase can never be less than zero.
     (e) "Market increase" means the total value increase minus the improvement increase. Market increase can never be less than zero.
     (2) The assessed value of property is equal to the lesser of the current appraised value or a limited value determined under this section. The limited value is equal to the greater of:
     (a) The improvement increase plus one hundred five percent of the previous assessed value; or
     (b) The sum of:
     (i) The previous assessed value;
     (ii) The improvement increase; and
     (iii) Fifteen percent of the market increase.
     (3) Upon loss of preferential tax treatment for property that qualifies for preferential tax treatment under chapter 84.14, 84.26, 84.33, 84.34, or 84.36 RCW, the previous assessed value shall be the assessed value the property would have had without the preferential tax treatment.

Sec. 306   RCW 84.40.040 and 2003 c 302 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The assessor shall begin the preliminary work for each assessment not later than the first day of December of each year in all counties in the state. The assessor shall also complete the duties of listing and placing valuations on all property by May 31st of each year, except that the listing and valuation of construction and mobile homes under RCW 36.21.080 and 36.21.090 shall be completed by August 31st of each year, and in the following manner, to wit:
     The assessor shall actually determine as nearly as practicable the true and fair value of each tract or lot of land listed for taxation and of each improvement located thereon and shall enter as the appraised value one hundred percent of the true and fair value of such land and value of such improvements, together with the total of such one hundred percent valuations, opposite each description of property on the assessment list and tax roll.
     The assessor shall determine the assessed value, under section 305 of this act, for each tract or lot of land listed for taxation, including improvements located thereon, and shall also enter this value opposite each description of property on the assessment list and tax roll.
     The assessor shall make an alphabetical list of the names of all persons in the county liable to assessment of personal property, and require each person to make a correct list and statement of such property according to the standard form prescribed by the department of revenue, which statement and list shall include, if required by the form, the year of acquisition and total original cost of personal property in each category of the prescribed form. However, the assessor may list and value improvements on publicly owned land in the same manner as real property is listed and valued, including conformance with the revaluation program required under chapter 84.41 RCW. Such list and statement shall be filed on or before the last day of April. The assessor shall on or before the 1st day of January of each year mail, or electronically transmit, a notice to all such persons at their last known address that such statement and list is required. This notice must be accompanied by the form on which the statement or list is to be made. The notice mailed, or electronically transmitted, by the assessor to each taxpayer each year shall, if practicable, include the statement and list of personal property of the taxpayer for the preceding year. Upon receipt of such statement and list the assessor shall thereupon determine the true and fair value of the property included in such statement and enter one hundred percent of the same on the assessment roll opposite the name of the party assessed; and in making such entry in the assessment list, the assessor shall give the name and post office address of the party listing the property, and if the party resides in a city the assessor shall give the street and number or other brief description of the party's residence or place of business. The assessor may, after giving written notice of the action to the person to be assessed, add to the assessment list any taxable property which should be included in such list.

Sec. 307   RCW 84.40.045 and 2001 c 187 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:
     The assessor shall give notice of any change in the ((true and fair)) assessed value of real property for the tract or lot of land and any improvements thereon no later than thirty days after appraisal: PROVIDED, That no such notice shall be mailed during the period from January 15 to February 15 of each year: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no notice need be sent with respect to changes in valuation of forest land made pursuant to chapter 84.33 RCW.
     The notice shall contain a statement of both the prior and the new ((true and fair)) appraised and assessed values, stating separately land and improvement appraised values, and a brief statement of the procedure for appeal to the board of equalization and the time, date, and place of the meetings of the board.
     The notice shall be mailed by the assessor to the taxpayer.
     If any taxpayer, as shown by the tax rolls, holds solely a security interest in the real property which is the subject of the notice, pursuant to a mortgage, contract of sale, or deed of trust, such taxpayer shall, upon written request of the assessor, supply, within thirty days of receipt of such request, to the assessor the name and address of the person making payments pursuant to the mortgage, contract of sale, or deed of trust, and thereafter such person shall also receive a copy of the notice provided for in this section. Willful failure to comply with such request within the time limitation provided for herein shall make such taxpayer subject to a maximum civil penalty of five thousand dollars. The penalties provided for herein shall be recoverable in an action by the county prosecutor, and when recovered shall be deposited in the county current expense fund. The assessor shall make the request provided for by this section during the month of January.

Sec. 308   RCW 84.41.041 and 2001 c 187 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:
     Each county assessor shall cause taxable real property to be physically inspected and valued at least once every six years in accordance with RCW 84.41.030, and in accordance with a plan filed with and approved by the department of revenue. Such revaluation plan shall provide that a reasonable portion of all taxable real property within a county shall be revalued and these newly-determined values placed on the assessment rolls each year. The department may approve a plan that provides that all property in the county be revalued every two years. If the revaluation plan provides for physical inspection at least once each four years, during the intervals between each physical inspection of real property, the appraised valuation of such property may be adjusted to its current true and fair value, such adjustments to be based upon appropriate statistical data. If the revaluation plan provides for physical inspection less frequently than once each four years, during the intervals between each physical inspection of real property, the valuation of such property shall be adjusted to its current true and fair value, such adjustments to be made once each year and to be based upon appropriate statistical data. If the appraised valuation is changed, the assessed value shall be recalculated under section 305 of this act.
     The assessor may require property owners to submit pertinent data respecting taxable property in their control including data respecting any sale or purchase of said property within the past five years, the cost and characteristics of any improvement on the property and other facts necessary for appraisal of the property.

Sec. 309   RCW 84.48.010 and 2001 c 187 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:
     Prior to July 15th, the county legislative authority shall form a board for the equalization of the assessment of the property of the county. The members of said board shall receive a per diem amount as set by the county legislative authority for each day of actual attendance of the meeting of the board of equalization to be paid out of the current expense fund of the county: PROVIDED, That when the county legislative authority constitute the board they shall only receive their compensation as members of the county legislative authority. The board of equalization shall meet in open session for this purpose annually on the 15th day of July and, having each taken an oath fairly and impartially to perform their duties as members of such board, they shall examine and compare the returns of the assessment of the property of the county and proceed to equalize the same, so that the appraised value of each tract or lot of real property and each article or class of personal property shall be entered on the assessment list at its true and fair value, according to the measure of value used by the county assessor in such assessment year, ((which is presumed to be correct under RCW 84.40.0301)) and so that the assessed value of each tract or lot of real property is entered on the assessment list at its correct amount, and subject to the following rules:
     First. They shall raise the appraised valuation of each tract or lot or item of real property which is returned below its true and fair value to such price or sum as to be the true and fair value thereof, and raise the assessed valuation of each tract or lot or item of real property which is returned below its correct amount to the correct amount after at least five days' notice shall have been given in writing to the owner or agent.
     Second. They shall reduce the appraised valuation of each tract or lot or item which is returned above its true and fair value to such price or sum as to be the true and fair value thereof and reduce the assessed valuation of each tract or lot or item of real property which is returned below its correct amount to the correct amount.
     Third. They shall raise the valuation of each class of personal property which is returned below its true and fair value to such price or sum as to be the true and fair value thereof, and they shall raise the aggregate value of the personal property of each individual whenever the aggregate value is less than the true valuation of the taxable personal property possessed by such individual, to such sum or amount as to be the true value thereof, after at least five days' notice shall have been given in writing to the owner or agent thereof.
     Fourth. They shall reduce the valuation of each class of personal property enumerated on the detail and assessment list of the current year, which is returned above its true and fair value, to such price or sum as to be the true and fair value thereof; and they shall reduce the aggregate valuation of the personal property of such individual who has been assessed at too large a sum to such sum or amount as was the true and fair value of the personal property.
     Fifth. The board may review all claims for either real or personal property tax exemption as determined by the county assessor, and shall consider any taxpayer appeals from the decision of the assessor thereon to determine (1) if the taxpayer is entitled to an exemption, and (2) if so, the amount thereof.
     The clerk of the board shall keep an accurate journal or record of the proceedings and orders of said board showing the facts and evidence upon which their action is based, and the said record shall be published the same as other proceedings of county legislative authority, and shall make a true record of the changes of the descriptions and ((assessed)) appraised values ordered by the county board of equalization. The assessor shall recalculate assessed values and correct the real and personal assessment rolls in accordance with the changes made by the said county board of equalization, and the assessor shall make duplicate abstracts of such corrected values, one copy of which shall be retained in the office, and one copy forwarded to the department of revenue on or before the eighteenth day of August next following the meeting of the county board of equalization.
     The county board of equalization shall meet on the 15th day of July and may continue in session and adjourn from time to time during a period not to exceed four weeks, but shall remain in session not less than three days: PROVIDED, That the county board of equalization with the approval of the county legislative authority may convene at any time when petitions filed exceed twenty-five, or ten percent of the number of appeals filed in the preceding year, whichever is greater.
     No taxes, except special taxes, shall be extended upon the tax rolls until the property valuations are equalized by the department of revenue for the purpose of raising the state revenue.
     County legislative authorities as such shall at no time have any authority to change the valuation of the property of any person or to release or commute in whole or in part the taxes due on the property of any person.

Sec. 310   RCW 84.48.065 and 2001 c 187 s 23 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The county assessor or treasurer may cancel or correct assessments on the assessment or tax rolls which are erroneous due to manifest errors in description, double assessments, clerical errors in extending the rolls, clerical errors in calculating the assessed value under section 305 of this act, and such manifest errors in the listing of the property which do not involve a revaluation of property, except in the case that a taxpayer produces proof that an authorized land use authority has made a definitive change in the property's land use designation. In such a case, correction of the assessment or tax rolls may be made notwithstanding the fact that the action involves a revaluation of property. Manifest errors that do not involve a revaluation of property include the assessment of property exempted by law from taxation or the failure to deduct the exemption allowed by law to the head of a family. When the county assessor cancels or corrects an assessment, the assessor shall send a notice to the taxpayer in accordance with RCW 84.40.045, advising the taxpayer that the action has been taken and notifying the taxpayer of the right to appeal the cancellation or correction to the county board of equalization, in accordance with RCW 84.40.038. When the county assessor or treasurer cancels or corrects an assessment, a record of such action shall be prepared, setting forth therein the facts relating to the error. The record shall also set forth by legal description all property belonging exclusively to the state, any county, or any municipal corporation whose property is exempt from taxation, upon which there remains, according to the tax roll, any unpaid taxes. No manifest error cancellation or correction, including a cancellation or correction made due to a definitive change of land use designation, shall be made for any period more than three years preceding the year in which the error is discovered.
     (2)(a) In the case of a definitive change of land use designation, an assessor shall make corrections that involve a revaluation of property to the assessment roll when:
     (i) The assessor and taxpayer have signed an agreement as to the true and fair value of the taxpayer's property setting forth in the agreement the valuation information upon which the agreement is based; and
     (ii) The assessment roll has previously been certified in accordance with RCW 84.40.320.
     (b) In all other cases, an assessor shall make corrections that involve a revaluation of property to the assessment roll when:
     (i) The assessor and taxpayer have signed an agreement as to the true and fair value of the taxpayer's property setting forth in the agreement the valuation information upon which the agreement is based; and
     (ii) The following conditions are met:
     (A) The assessment roll has previously been certified in accordance with RCW 84.40.320;
     (B) The taxpayer has timely filed a petition with the county board of equalization pursuant to RCW 84.40.038 for the current assessment year;
     (C) The county board of equalization has not yet held a hearing on the merits of the taxpayer's petition.
     (3) The assessor shall issue a supplementary roll or rolls including such cancellations and corrections, and the assessment and levy shall have the same force and effect as if made in the first instance, and the county treasurer shall proceed to collect the taxes due on the rolls as modified.

Sec. 311   RCW 84.48.075 and 2001 c 187 s 24 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department of revenue shall annually, prior to the first Monday in September, determine and submit to each assessor a preliminary indicated ratio for each county: PROVIDED, That the department shall establish rules and regulations pertinent to the determination of the indicated ratio, the indicated real property ratio and the indicated personal property ratio: PROVIDED FURTHER, That these rules and regulations may provide that data, as is necessary for said determination, which is available from the county assessor of any county and which has been audited as to its validity by the department, shall be utilized by the department in determining the indicated ratio.
     (2) To such extent as is reasonable, the department may define use classes of property for the purposes of determination of the indicated ratio. Such use classes may be defined with respect to property use and may include agricultural, open space, timber and forest lands.
     (3) The department shall review each county's preliminary ratio with the assessor, a landowner, or an owner of an intercounty public utility or private car company of that county, if requested by the assessor, a landowner, or an owner of an intercounty public utility or private car company of that county, respectively, between the first and third Mondays of September. Prior to equalization of assessments pursuant to RCW 84.48.080 and after the third Monday of September, the department shall certify to each county assessor the real and personal property ratio for that county.
     (4) The department of revenue shall also examine procedures used by the assessor to assess real and personal property in the county, including calculations, use of prescribed value schedules, and efforts to locate all taxable property in the county. If any examination by the department discloses other than market value is being listed as the appraised value on the county assessment rolls of the county by the assessor and, after due notification by the department, is not corrected, the department of revenue shall, in accordance with rules adopted by the department, adjust the ratio of that type of property, which adjustment shall be used for determining the county's indicated ratio.

Sec. 312   RCW 84.48.080 and 2001 c 185 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Annually during the months of September and October, the department of revenue shall examine and compare the returns of the assessment of the property in the several counties of the state, and the assessment of the property of railroad and other companies assessed by the department, and proceed to equalize the same, so that each county in the state shall pay its due and just proportion of the taxes for state purposes for such assessment year, according to the ratio the assessed valuation of the property in each county bears to the correct total assessed valuation of all property in the state.
     (a) The department shall classify all property, real and personal, and shall raise and lower the assessed valuation of any class of property in any county to a value that shall be equal, so far as possible, to the ((true and fair)) correct assessed value of such class as of January 1st of the current year, after determining the correct appraised value, and any adjustment applicable under section 305 of this act for the property, for the purpose of ascertaining the just amount of tax due from each county for state purposes. In equalizing personal property as of January 1st of the current year, the department shall use valuation data with respect to personal property from the three years immediately preceding the current assessment year in a manner it deems appropriate. Such classification may be on the basis of types of property, geographical areas, or both. For purposes of this section, for each county that has not provided the department with an assessment return by December 1st, the department shall proceed, using facts and information and in a manner it deems appropriate, to estimate the value of each class of property in the county.
     (b) The department shall keep a full record of its proceedings and the same shall be published annually by the department.
     (2) The department shall levy the state taxes authorized by law. The amount levied in any one year for general state purposes shall not exceed the lawful dollar rate on the dollar of the assessed value of the property of the entire state, ((which assessed value shall be one hundred percent of the true and fair value of the property in money)) as equalized under this section. The department shall apportion the amount of tax for state purposes levied by the department, among the several counties, in proportion to the valuation of the taxable property of the county for the year as equalized by the department: PROVIDED, That for purposes of this apportionment, the department shall recompute the previous year's levy and the apportionment thereof to correct for changes and errors in taxable values reported to the department after October 1 of the preceding year and shall adjust the apportioned amount of the current year's state levy for each county by the difference between the apportioned amounts established by the original and revised levy computations for the previous year. For purposes of this section, changes in taxable values mean a final adjustment made by a county board of equalization, the state board of tax appeals, or a court of competent jurisdiction and shall include additions of omitted property, other additions or deletions from the assessment or tax rolls, any assessment return provided by a county to the department subsequent to December 1st, or a change in the indicated ratio of a county. Errors in taxable values mean errors corrected by a final reviewing body.
     In addition to computing a levy under this subsection that is reduced under RCW 84.55.012, the department shall compute a hypothetical levy without regard to the reduction under RCW 84.55.012. This hypothetical levy shall also be apportioned among the several counties in proportion to the valuation of the taxable property of the county for the year, as equalized by the department, in the same manner as the actual levy and shall be used by the county assessors for the purpose of recomputing and establishing a consolidated levy under RCW 84.52.010.
     (3) The department shall have authority to adopt rules and regulations to enforce obedience to its orders in all matters in relation to the returns of county assessments, the equalization of values, and the apportionment of the state levy by the department.
     (4) After the completion of the duties prescribed in this section, the director of the department shall certify the record of the proceedings of the department under this section, the tax levies made for state purposes and the apportionment thereof among the counties, and the certification shall be available for public inspection.

Sec. 313   RCW 84.12.270 and 2001 c 187 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department of revenue shall annually make an assessment of the operating property of all companies; and between the fifteenth day of March and the first day of July of each year shall prepare an assessment roll upon which it shall enter ((and assess)) the ((true and fair)) assessed value of all the operating property of each of such companies as of the first day of January of the year in which the assessment is made. For the purpose of determining the ((true and fair)) assessed value of such property the department of revenue may inspect the property belonging to said companies and may take into consideration any information or knowledge obtained by it from such examination and inspection of such property, or of the books, records, and accounts of such companies, the statements filed as required by this chapter, the reports, statements, or returns of such companies filed in the office of any board, office, or commission of this state or any county thereof, the earnings and earning power of such companies, the franchises owned or used by such companies, the true and fair valuation of any and all property of such companies, whether operating or nonoperating property, and whether situated within or outside the state, and any other facts, evidence, or information that may be obtainable bearing upon the value of the operating property: PROVIDED, That in no event shall any statement or report required from any company by this chapter be conclusive upon the department of revenue in determining the amount, character, and ((true and fair)) assessed value of the operating property of such company.

Sec. 314   RCW 84.12.280 and 2001 c 187 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In making the assessment of the operating property of any railroad or logging railroad company and in the apportionment of the values and the taxation thereof, all land occupied and claimed exclusively as the right-of-way for railroads, with all the tracks and substructures and superstructures which support the same, together with all side tracks, second tracks, turn-outs, station houses, depots, round houses, machine shops, or other buildings belonging to the company, used in the operation thereof, without separating the same into land and improvements, shall be assessed as real property. And the rolling stock and other movable property belonging to any railroad or logging railroad company shall be considered as personal property and taxed as such: PROVIDED, That all of the operating property of street railway companies shall be assessed and taxed as personal property.
     (2) All of the operating property of airplane companies, telegraph companies, pipe line companies, and all of the operating property other than lands and buildings of electric light and power companies, telephone companies, and gas companies shall be assessed and taxed as personal property.
     (3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the limit provided under section 105 of this act shall be applied in the assessment of property under this section to the same extent as that limit is generally applied to property not assessed under this chapter.

Sec. 315   RCW 84.12.310 and 2001 c 187 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     For the purpose of determining the system value of the operating property of any such company, the department of revenue shall deduct from the ((true and fair)) assessed value of the total assets of such company, the ((actual cash)) assessed value of all nonoperating property owned by such company. For such purpose the department of revenue may require of the assessors of the various counties within this state a detailed list of such company's properties assessed by them, together with the assessable or assessed value thereof: PROVIDED, That such assessed or assessable value shall be advisory only and not conclusive on the department of revenue as to the value thereof.

Sec. 316   RCW 84.12.330 and 2001 c 187 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     Upon the assessment roll shall be placed after the name of each company a general description of the operating property of the company, which shall be considered sufficient if described in the language of RCW 84.12.200(12), as applied to the company, following which shall be entered the ((true and fair)) assessed value of the operating property as determined by the department of revenue. No assessment shall be invalidated by reason of a mistake in the name of the company assessed, or the omission of the name of the owner or by the entry as owner of a name other than that of the true owner. When the department of revenue shall have prepared the assessment roll and entered thereon the ((true and fair)) assessed value of the operating property of the company, as herein required, it shall notify the company by mail of the valuation determined by it and entered upon the roll.

Sec. 317   RCW 84.12.350 and 2001 c 187 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     Upon determination by the department of revenue of the ((true and fair)) assessed value of the property appearing on such rolls it shall apportion such value to the respective counties entitled thereto, as hereinafter provided, and shall determine the equalized assessed valuation of such property in each such county and in the several taxing districts therein, by applying to such actual apportioned value the same ratio as the ratio of assessed to ((actual)) the correct assessed value of the general property in such county: PROVIDED, That, whenever the amount of the true and ((fair)) correct value of the operating property of any company otherwise apportionable to any county or other taxing district shall be less than two hundred fifty dollars, such amount need not be apportioned to such county or taxing district but may be added to the amount apportioned to an adjacent county or taxing district.

Sec. 318   RCW 84.12.360 and 2001 c 187 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     The ((true and fair)) assessed value of the operating property assessed to a company, as fixed and determined by the department of revenue, shall be apportioned by the department of revenue to the respective counties and to the taxing districts thereof wherein such property is located in the following manner:
     (1) Property of all railroad companies other than street railroad companies, telegraph companies and pipe line companies -- upon the basis of that proportion of the value of the total operating property within the state which the mileage of track, as classified by the department of revenue (in case of railroads), mileage of wire (in the case of telegraph companies), and mileage of pipe line (in the case of pipe line companies) within each county or taxing district bears to the total mileage thereof within the state, at the end of the calendar year last past. For the purpose of such apportionment the department may classify railroad track.
     (2) Property of street railroad companies, telephone companies, electric light and power companies, and gas companies -- upon the basis of relative value of the operating property within each county and taxing district to the value of the total operating property within the state to be determined by such factors as the department of revenue shall deem proper.
     (3) Planes or other aircraft of airplane companies -- upon the basis of such factor or factors of allocation, to be determined by the department of revenue, as will secure a substantially fair and equitable division between counties and other taxing districts.
     All other property of airplane companies -- upon the basis set forth in subsection (2) of this section.
     The basis of apportionment with reference to all public utility companies above prescribed shall not be deemed exclusive and the department of revenue in apportioning values of such companies may also take into consideration such other information, facts, circumstances, or allocation factors as will enable it to make a substantially just and correct valuation of the operating property of such companies within the state and within each county thereof.

Sec. 319   RCW 84.16.040 and 2001 c 187 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department of revenue shall annually make an assessment of the operating property of each private car company; and between the first day of May and the first day of July of each year shall prepare an assessment roll upon which it shall enter ((and assess)) the ((true and fair)) assessed value of all the operating property of each of such companies as of the first day of January of the year in which the assessment is made. For the purpose of determining the ((true and fair)) assessed value of such property the department of revenue may take into consideration any information or knowledge obtained by it from an examination and inspection of such property, or of the books, records, and accounts of such companies, the statements filed as required by this chapter, the reports, statements, or returns of such companies filed in the office of any board, office, or commission of this state or any county thereof, the earnings and earning power of such companies, the franchises owned or used by such companies, the true and fair valuation of any and all property of such companies, whether operating property or nonoperating property, and whether situated within or without the state, and any other facts, evidences, or information that may be obtainable bearing upon the value of the operating property((: PROVIDED, That)). However, in no event shall any statement or report required from any company by this chapter be conclusive upon the department of revenue in determining the amount, character, and ((true and fair)) assessed value of the operating property of such company.

Sec. 320   RCW 84.16.050 and 2001 c 187 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department of revenue may, in determining the ((true and fair)) assessed value of the operating property to be placed on the assessment roll value the entire property as a unit. If the company owns, leases, operates or uses property partly within and partly without the state, the department of revenue may determine the value of the operating property within this state by the proportion that the value of such property bears to the value of the entire operating property of the company, both within and without this state. In determining the operating property which is located within this state the department of revenue may consider and base such determination on the proportion which the number of car miles of the various classes of cars made in this state bears to the total number of car miles made by the same cars within and without this state, or to the total number of car miles made by all cars of the various classes within and without this state. If the value of the operating property of the company cannot be fairly determined in such manner the department of revenue may use any other reasonable and fair method to determine the value of the operating property of the company within this state.

Sec. 321   RCW 84.16.090 and 2001 c 187 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     Upon the assessment roll shall be placed after the name of each company a general description of the operating property of the company, which shall be considered sufficient if described in the language of RCW 84.16.010(3) or otherwise, following which shall be entered the ((true and fair)) assessed value of the operating property as determined by the department of revenue. No assessment shall be invalid by a mistake in the name of the company assessed, by omission of the name of the owner or by the entry of a name other than that of the true owner. When the department of revenue shall have prepared the assessment roll and entered thereon the ((true and fair)) assessed value of the operating property of the company, as required, it shall notify the company by mail of the valuation determined by it and entered upon the roll; and thereupon such assessed valuation shall become the ((true and fair)) assessed value of the operating property of the company, subject to revision or correction by the department of revenue as hereinafter provided; and shall be the valuation upon which, after equalization by the department of revenue as hereinafter provided, the taxes of such company shall be based and computed.

Sec. 322   RCW 84.16.110 and 2001 c 187 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
     Upon determination by the department of revenue of the ((true and fair)) correct assessed value of the property appearing on such rolls the department shall apportion such value to the respective counties entitled thereto as hereinafter provided, and shall determine the equalized or assessed valuation of such property in such counties by applying to such actual apportioned value the same ratio as the ratio of assessed to ((actual)) the correct assessed value of the general property of the respective counties((: PROVIDED, That,)). However, whenever the amount of the true and ((fair)) correct assessed value of the operating property of any company otherwise apportionable to any county shall be less than two hundred fifty dollars, such amount need not be apportioned to such county but may be added to the amount apportioned to an adjacent county.

Sec. 323   RCW 84.16.120 and 2001 c 187 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:
     The ((true and fair)) assessed value of the property of each company as fixed and determined by the department of revenue as herein provided shall be apportioned to the respective counties in the following manner:
     (1) If all the operating property of the company is situated entirely within a county and none of such property is located within, extends into, or through or is operated into or through any other county, the entire value thereof shall be apportioned to the county within which such property is situated, located, and operated.
     (2) If the operating property of any company is situated or located within, extends into or is operated into or through more than one county, the value thereof shall be apportioned to the respective counties into or through which its cars are operated in the proportion that the length of main line track of the respective railroads moving such cars in such counties bears to the total length of main line track of such respective railroads in this state.
     (3) If the property of any company is of such character that it will not be reasonable, feasible or fair to apportion the value as hereinabove provided, the value thereof shall be apportioned between the respective counties into or through which such property extends or is operated or in which the same is located in such manner as may be reasonable, feasible and fair.

Sec. 324   RCW 84.36.041 and 2001 c 187 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) All real and personal property used by a nonprofit home for the aging that is reasonably necessary for the purposes of the home is exempt from taxation if the benefit of the exemption inures to the home and:
     (a) At least fifty percent of the occupied dwelling units in the home are occupied by eligible residents; or
     (b) The home is subsidized under a federal department of housing and urban development program. The department of revenue shall provide by rule a definition of homes eligible for exemption under this subsection (1)(b), consistent with the purposes of this section.
     (2) All real and personal property used by a nonprofit home for the aging that is reasonably necessary for the purposes of the home is exempt from taxation if the benefit of the exemption inures to the home and the construction, rehabilitation, acquisition, or refinancing of the home is financed under a program using bonds exempt from federal income tax if at least seventy-five percent of the total amount financed uses the tax exempt bonds and the financing program requires the home to reserve a percentage of all dwelling units so financed for low-income residents. The initial term of the exemption under this subsection shall equal the term of the tax exempt bond used in connection with the financing program, or the term of the requirement to reserve dwelling units for low-income residents, whichever is shorter. If the financing program involves less than the entire home, only those dwelling units included in the financing program are eligible for total exemption. The department of revenue shall provide by rule the requirements for monitoring compliance with the provisions of this subsection and the requirements for exemption including:
     (a) The number or percentage of dwelling units required to be occupied by low-income residents, and a definition of low income;
     (b) The type and character of the dwelling units, whether independent units or otherwise; and
     (c) Any particular requirements for continuing care retirement communities.
     (3) A home for the aging is eligible for a partial exemption on the real property and a total exemption for the home's personal property if the home does not meet the requirements of subsection (1) of this section because fewer than fifty percent of the occupied dwelling units are occupied by eligible residents, as follows:
     (a) A partial exemption shall be allowed for each dwelling unit in a home occupied by a resident requiring assistance with activities of daily living.
     (b) A partial exemption shall be allowed for each dwelling unit in a home occupied by an eligible resident.
     (c) A partial exemption shall be allowed for an area jointly used by a home for the aging and by a nonprofit organization, association, or corporation currently exempt from property taxation under one of the other provisions of this chapter. The shared area must be reasonably necessary for the purposes of the nonprofit organization, association, or corporation exempt from property taxation under one of the other provisions of this chapter, such as kitchen, dining, and laundry areas.
     (d) The amount of exemption shall be calculated by multiplying the assessed value of the property reasonably necessary for the purposes of the home, less the assessed value of any area exempt under (c) of this subsection, by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the number of dwelling units occupied by eligible residents and by residents requiring assistance with activities of daily living. The denominator of the fraction is the total number of occupied dwelling units as of December 31st of the first assessment year the home becomes operational for which exemption is claimed and January 1st of each subsequent assessment year for which exemption is claimed.
     (4) To be exempt under this section, the property must be used exclusively for the purposes for which the exemption is granted, except as provided in RCW 84.36.805.
     (5) A home for the aging is exempt from taxation only if the organization operating the home is exempt from income tax under section 501(c) of the federal internal revenue code as existing on January 1, 1989, or such subsequent date as the director may provide by rule consistent with the purposes of this section.
     (6) In order for the home to be eligible for exemption under subsections (1)(a) and (3)(b) of this section, each eligible resident of a home for the aging shall submit an income verification form to the county assessor by July 1st of the assessment year for which exemption is claimed. However, during the first year a home becomes operational, the county assessor shall accept income verification forms from eligible residents up to December 31st of the assessment year. The income verification form shall be prescribed and furnished by the department of revenue. An eligible resident who has filed a form for a previous year need not file a new form until there is a change in status affecting the person's eligibility.
     (7) In determining the ((true and fair)) assessed value of a home for the aging for purposes of the partial exemption provided by subsection (3) of this section, the assessor shall apply the computation method provided by RCW 84.34.060 and shall consider only the use to which such property is applied during the years for which such partial exemptions are available and shall not consider potential uses of such property.
     (8) As used in this section:
     (a) "Eligible resident" means a person who:
     (i) Occupied the dwelling unit as a principal place of residence as of December 31st of the first assessment year the home becomes operational. In each subsequent year, the eligible resident must occupy the dwelling unit as a principal place of residence as of January 1st of the assessment year for which the exemption is claimed. Confinement of the person to a hospital or nursing home does not disqualify the claim of exemption if the dwelling unit is temporarily unoccupied or if the dwelling unit is occupied by a spouse, a person financially dependent on the claimant for support, or both; and
     (ii) Is sixty-one years of age or older on December 31st of the year in which the exemption claim is filed, or is, at the time of filing, retired from regular gainful employment by reason of physical disability. Any surviving spouse of a person who was receiving an exemption at the time of the person's death shall qualify if the surviving spouse is fifty-seven years of age or older and otherwise meets the requirements of this subsection; and
     (iii) Has a combined disposable income of no more than the greater of twenty-two thousand dollars or eighty percent of the median income adjusted for family size as most recently determined by the federal department of housing and urban development for the county in which the person resides. For the purposes of determining eligibility under this section, a "cotenant" means a person who resides with an eligible resident and who shares personal financial resources with the eligible resident.
     (b) "Combined disposable income" means the disposable income of the person submitting the income verification form, plus the disposable income of his or her spouse, and the disposable income of each cotenant occupying the dwelling unit for the preceding calendar year, less amounts paid by the person submitting the income verification form or his or her spouse or cotenant during the previous year for the treatment or care of either person received in the dwelling unit or in a nursing home. If the person submitting the income verification form was retired for two months or more of the preceding year, the combined disposable income of such person shall be calculated by multiplying the average monthly combined disposable income of such person during the months such person was retired by twelve. If the income of the person submitting the income verification form is reduced for two or more months of the preceding year by reason of the death of the person's spouse, the combined disposable income of such person shall be calculated by multiplying the average monthly combined disposable income of such person after the death of the spouse by twelve.
     (c) "Disposable income" means adjusted gross income as defined in the federal internal revenue code, as amended prior to January 1, 1989, or such subsequent date as the director may provide by rule consistent with the purpose of this section, plus all of the following items to the extent they are not included in or have been deducted from adjusted gross income:
     (i) Capital gains, other than gain excluded from income under section 121 of the federal internal revenue code to the extent it is reinvested in a new principal residence;
     (ii) Amounts deducted for loss;
     (iii) Amounts deducted for depreciation;
     (iv) Pension and annuity receipts;
     (v) Military pay and benefits other than attendant-care and medical-aid payments;
     (vi) Veterans benefits other than attendant-care and medical-aid payments;
     (vii) Federal social security act and railroad retirement benefits;
     (viii) Dividend receipts; and
     (ix) Interest received on state and municipal bonds.
     (d) "Resident requiring assistance with activities of daily living" means a person who requires significant assistance with the activities of daily living and who would be at risk of nursing home placement without this assistance.
     (e) "Home for the aging" means a residential housing facility that (i) provides a housing arrangement chosen voluntarily by the resident, the resident's guardian or conservator, or another responsible person; (ii) has only residents who are at least sixty-one years of age or who have needs for care generally compatible with persons who are at least sixty-one years of age; and (iii) provides varying levels of care and supervision, as agreed to at the time of admission or as determined necessary at subsequent times of reappraisal.
     (9) A for-profit home for the aging that converts to nonprofit status after June 11, 1992, and would otherwise be eligible for tax exemption under this section may not receive the tax exemption until five years have elapsed since the conversion. The exemption shall then be ratably granted over the next five years.

Sec. 325   RCW 84.52.063 and 2001 c 187 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:
     A rural library district may impose a regular property tax levy in an amount equal to that which would be produced by a levy of fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value multiplied by an equalized assessed valuation ((equal to one hundred percent of the true and fair value of the taxable property in the rural library district)), as determined by the department of revenue's indicated county ratio((: PROVIDED, That)). However, when any county assessor shall find that the aggregate rate of levy on any property will exceed the limitation set forth in RCW 84.52.043 and 84.52.050, as now or hereafter amended, before recomputing and establishing a consolidated levy in the manner set forth in RCW 84.52.010, the assessor shall first reduce the levy of any rural library district, by such amount as may be necessary, but the levy of any rural library district shall not be reduced to less than fifty cents per thousand dollars against the value of the taxable property, as determined by the county, prior to any further adjustments pursuant to RCW 84.52.010. For purposes of this section "regular property tax levy" shall mean a levy subject to the limitations provided for in Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution and/or by statute.

Sec. 326   RCW 84.70.010 and 2005 c 56 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) If, on or before December 31 in any calendar year, any real or personal property placed upon the assessment roll of that year is destroyed in whole or in part, or is in an area that has been declared a disaster area by the governor or the county legislative authority and has been reduced in value by more than twenty percent as a result of a natural disaster, the ((true and fair)) assessed value of such property shall be reduced for that assessment year by an amount determined by taking the ((true and fair)) assessed value of such taxable property before destruction or reduction in value and deduct therefrom the true and fair value of the remaining property after destruction or reduction in value.
     (2) Taxes levied for collection in the year in which the ((true and fair)) assessed value has been reduced under subsection (1) of this section shall be abated in whole or in part as provided in this subsection. The amount of taxes to be abated shall be determined by first multiplying the amount deducted from the ((true and fair)) assessed value under subsection (1) of this section by the rate of levy applicable to the property in the tax year. Then divide the product by the number of days in the year and multiply the quotient by the number of days remaining in the calendar year after the date of the destruction or reduction in value of the property. If taxes abated under this section have been paid, the amount paid shall be refunded under RCW 84.69.020. The tax relief provided for in this section for the tax year in which the damage or destruction occurred does not apply to property damaged or destroyed voluntarily.
     (3) No reduction in the ((true and fair)) assessed value or abatements shall be made more than three years after the date of destruction or reduction in value.
     (4) The assessor shall make such reduction on his or her own motion; however, the taxpayer may make application for reduction on forms prepared by the department and provided by the assessor. The assessor shall notify the taxpayer of the amount of reduction.
     (5) If destroyed property is replaced prior to the valuation dates contained in RCW 36.21.080 and 36.21.090, the total taxable value for that assessment year shall not exceed the assessed value as of the appropriate valuation date in RCW 36.21.080 or 36.21.090, whichever is appropriate.
     (6) The taxpayer may appeal the amount of reduction to the county board of equalization in accordance with the provisions of RCW 84.40.038. The board shall reconvene, if necessary, to hear the appeal.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 401   Sections 101, 201, and 202 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 402   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. 403   Part headings used in this act are not any part of the law.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 404   Sections 301 through 326 of this act apply to taxes levied for collection in 2008 and thereafter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 405   Sections 301 through 326 of this act take effect if the proposed amendment to Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution providing for a phase-in of increases in assessed value (HJR .... (H-1740.1/07)) is validly submitted to and is approved and ratified by the voters at a general election held in November 2007. If the proposed amendment is not approved and ratified, sections 301 through 326 of this act are void in their entirety.