BILL REQ. #:  H-3981.1 

Read first time 01/31/12.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to local transportation revenue; amending RCW 36.73.065; adding a new section to chapter 82.80 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 36.73.065 and 2007 c 329 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, taxes, fees, charges, and tolls may not be imposed by a district without approval of a majority of the voters in the district voting on a proposition at a general or special election. The proposition must include a specific description of the transportation improvement or improvements proposed by the district and the proposed taxes, fees, charges, and the range of tolls imposed by the district to raise revenue to fund the improvement or improvements.
     (2) Voter approval under this section shall be accorded substantial weight regarding the validity of a transportation improvement as defined in RCW 36.73.015.
     (3) A district may not increase any taxes, fees, charges, or range of tolls imposed under this chapter once the taxes, fees, charges, or tolls take effect, unless authorized by the district voters pursuant to RCW 36.73.160.
     (4)(a) A district that includes all the territory within the boundaries of the jurisdiction, or jurisdictions, establishing the district may impose by a majority vote of the governing board of the district the following fees and charges:
     (i) Up to twenty dollars of the vehicle fee authorized in RCW 82.80.140; or
     (ii) A fee or charge in accordance with RCW 36.73.120.
     (b) A district that includes all the territory within the boundaries of the jurisdiction, or jurisdictions, establishing the district may impose by a two-thirds majority vote of the governing board of the district up to forty dollars of the vehicle fee authorized in RCW 82.80.140.
     (c) The vehicle fee authorized in (a) of this subsection may only be imposed for a passenger-only ferry transportation improvement if the vehicle fee is first approved by a majority of the voters within the jurisdiction of the district.
     (((c))) (d)(i) A district solely comprised of a city or cities shall not impose the fees or charges identified in (a) of this subsection within one hundred eighty days after July 22, 2007, unless the county in which the city or cities reside, by resolution, declares that it will not impose the fees or charges identified in (a) of this subsection within the one hundred eighty-day period; or
     (ii) A district solely comprised of a city or cities identified in RCW 36.73.020(6)(b) shall not impose the fees or charges until after May 22, 2008, unless the county in which the city or cities reside, by resolution, declares that it will not impose the fees or charges identified in (a) of this subsection through May 22, 2008.
     (5) If the interlocal agreement in RCW 82.80.140(2)(a) cannot be reached, a district that includes only the unincorporated territory of a county may impose by a majority vote of the governing body of the district up to twenty dollars of the vehicle fee authorized in RCW 82.80.140.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 82.80 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A county may impose a local surcharge of not more than one percent of the value on vehicles registered to a person residing within the county. No surcharge may be imposed on vehicles licensed under RCW 46.17.355, except vehicles with an unladen weight of six thousand pounds or less, RCW 46.16A.425, 46.17.335, or 46.17.350(1)(c).
     (2) Counties imposing a tax under this section shall contract, before the effective date of the resolution or ordinance imposing a surcharge, administration and collection to the department of licensing, as appropriate, which shall deduct an amount, as provided by contract, for administration and collection expenses incurred by the department.
     (3) Counties imposing a tax under this section must use the funds for transportation projects, which may include investment in new or existing highways of statewide significance, principal arterials of regional significance, high capacity transportation, public transportation, and other transportation projects and programs of regional or statewide significance, including transportation demand management. Projects may also include the operation, preservation, and maintenance of these facilities or programs.
     (4) Counties imposing a tax under this section must negotiate an interlocal agreement with cities and the transit agency within the county to distribute a portion of the revenues to the cities and transit agency. The interlocal agreement must require that the county distribute a maximum of twenty dollars per vehicle in each city to the cities within the county for the cities to use on local road operations and maintenance needs. The interlocal agreement must be effective prior to the imposition of the tax. The interlocal agreement is effective when approved by the county and sixty percent of the cities representing seventy-five percent of the population of the cities within the county in which the countywide fee is collected.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act takes effect October 1, 2012.