Read first time 01/21/08.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to providing that voter-approved property tax increases do not permanently increase a taxing district's levy base, unless expressly stated in the ballot proposition; amending RCW 84.55.050; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 84.55.050 and 2007 c 380 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Subject to any otherwise applicable statutory dollar rate limitations, regular property taxes may be levied by or for a taxing district in an amount exceeding the limitations provided for in this chapter if such levy is authorized by a proposition approved by a majority of the voters of the taxing district voting on the proposition at a general election held within the district or at a special election within the taxing district called by the district for the purpose of submitting such proposition to the voters. Any election held pursuant to this section shall be held not more than twelve months prior to the date on which the proposed levy is to be made, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section. The ballot of the proposition shall state the dollar rate proposed and shall clearly state the conditions, if any, which are applicable under subsection (4) of this section.
     (2) Subject to statutory dollar limitations, a proposition placed before the voters under this section may authorize annual increases in levies for multiple consecutive years, up to six consecutive years, during which period each year's authorized maximum legal levy shall be used as the base upon which an increased levy limit for the succeeding year is computed, but the ballot proposition must state the dollar rate proposed only for the first year of the consecutive years and must state the limit factor, or a specified index to be used for determining a limit factor, such as the consumer price index, which need not be the same for all years, by which the regular tax levy for the district may be increased in each of the subsequent consecutive years. Elections for this purpose must be held at a primary or general election. The title of each ballot measure must state the ((specific)) limited purposes for which the proposed annual increases during the specified period of up to six consecutive years shall be used, and funds raised under the levy shall not supplant existing funds used for these purposes. For purposes of this subsection, existing funds means the actual operating expenditures for the calendar year in which the ballot measure is approved by voters. Actual operating expenditures excludes lost federal funds, lost or expired state grants or loans, extraordinary events not likely to reoccur, changes in contract provisions beyond the control of the taxing district receiving the services, and major nonrecurring capital expenditures.
     (3) After a levy authorized pursuant to this section is made, the dollar amount of such levy ((shall)) may not be used for the purpose of computing the limitations for subsequent levies provided for in this chapter, ((except as provided in subsection (5) of this section)) unless the ballot proposition expressly states that the levy made under this section will be used for this purpose.
     (4) If expressly stated, a proposition placed before the voters under subsection (1) or (2) of this section may:
     (a) Use the dollar amount of a levy under subsection (1) of this section, or the dollar amount of the final levy under subsection (2) of this section, for the purpose of computing the limitations for subsequent levies provided for in this chapter;
     (b) Limit the period for which the increased levy is to be made under (a) of this subsection;
     (((b))) (c) Limit the purpose for which the increased levy is to be made under (a) of this subsection, but if the limited purpose includes making redemption payments on bonds, the period for which the increased levies are made shall not exceed nine years;
     (((c))) (d) Set the levy or levies at a rate less than the maximum rate allowed for the district; or
     (((d))) (e) Include any combination of the conditions in this subsection.
     (5) Except as otherwise ((provided)) expressly stated in an approved ballot measure under this section, ((after the expiration of a limited period under subsection (4)(a) of this section or the satisfaction of a limited purpose under subsection (4)(b) of this section, whichever comes first,)) subsequent levies shall be computed as if:
     (a) The ((limited)) proposition under ((subsection (4) of)) this section had not been approved; and
     (b) The taxing district had made levies at the maximum rates which would otherwise have been allowed under this chapter during the years levies were made under the ((limited)) proposition.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act applies prospectively only to levy lid lift ballot propositions under RCW 84.55.050 that receive voter approval on or after the effective date of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act is 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.