Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Local Government Committee |
HB 1321
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Concerning certain public facilities district's authorization to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair, finance, and operate one or more recreational facilities other than a ski area with voter approval.
Sponsors: Representatives Jenkin, Appleton, Nealey and Gregerson.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/24/17
Staff: Yvonne Walker (786-7841).
Background:
A Public Facilities District (PFD) is a municipal corporation with independent taxing authority and is a taxing district under the state Constitution. A PFD is governed by an appointed board of directors with varying composition and appointing authority.
A PFD may be created by a single town, city, county, or a group of towns or cities (often known as a multijurisdictional or regional PFD). Generally, a PFD is authorized to acquire, develop, maintain, and operate regional centers. A regional center includes convention centers, conference centers, parking-related facilities, and special events centers that are available to the public, used for community events, sporting events, trade shows, art, music, theater, and other cultural exhibitions.
When a group of towns, cities, counties, or any combination thereof, form a PFD, it is known as a multijurisdictional or regional PFD. Statute also authorizes cities and towns to create an additional specific multijurisdictional/regional PFD. This specific/special multijurisdictional/regional PFD is created when a group of at least three contiguous towns or cities, with a combined population of at least 160,000, each of which already has a PFD, create a multi-jurisdictional/regional PFD. This type of multijurisdictional/regional PFD has the authority under statute to acquire, construct, and operate one or more recreational facilities, other than a ski area, in addition to regional centers and special events centers. Voter approval must be obtained to fund each recreational facility or regional center.
All PFDs may charge fees for the use of its facilities. Each PFD may also impose a variety of taxes to fund its regional center or recreational facility including an admissions tax not exceeding 5 percent, a vehicle parking tax not exceeding 10 percent, a voter-approved local sales and use tax of up to 2 percent, and, if applicable, a voter-approved two percent lodging excise tax.
Summary of Bill:
A single PFD created by a city or town that also participated in the creation of an additional specific multijurisdictional/regional PFD (created by a group of at least three towns or cities with a specific population) is authorized to own, construct, remodel, and operate one or more recreational facilities, other than a ski area. This PFD must obtain voter approval to fund each recreational facility.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.