Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HJR 4203

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: Amending the Constitution to allow a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds.

Sponsors: Representatives Stonier, Dolan, Sawyer, Peterson, Doglio, Gregerson, Frame, Senn, Stanford, Chapman, Riccelli, Kilduff, Robinson, Lytton, Fitzgibbon, Hudgins, Ryu, Farrell, Macri, Ormsby, Bergquist, Slatter, Jinkins, Santos and Pollet.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Amends the state Constitution to authorize school districts to issue general obligation bonds for capital purposes, levy taxes to make payments on those bonds, and exceed a Constitutional debt limit with approval by a simple majority of the voters, voting on the proposition, rather than approval by 60 percent of the voters at a general election where the total number of voters is at least 40 percent of the total at the last preceding general election.

Hearing Date: 3/21/17

Staff: Megan Wargacki (786-7194).

Background:

General Obligation Bonds. The board of directors of a school district may borrow money and issue bonds for any capital purpose. The amount that may be borrowed is limited by the state Constitution and state statutes.

The Constitution sets a debt limit for school districts at 1.5 percent of the assessed value of property in the district, but the Constitution permits districts to exceed this limit for construction, up to 5 percent indebtedness, with approval of at least 60 percent of the voters at an election where the total number of voters is at least 40 percent of the total at the last preceding general election. State statute imposes a lower threshold of 0.375 percent indebtedness, but allows districts to exceed this threshold to a total indebtedness of 2.5 percent for capital outlays with the approval of at least 60 percent of the voters voting.

Maintenance and Operation Levies and Capital Levies. Under constitutional restrictions on property taxes, school districts may collect property tax revenues in excess of 1 percent of the assessed value of property in the district for the maintenance and operation of common schools, or the construction, modernization, or remodeling of school facilities. In 2007 the voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing school districts to levy this additional tax by a simple majority of the voters voting at an election for that purpose.

Bond Levies. School districts may also levy taxes above the 1 percent limit to make required payments of principal and interest on bonds issued for capital purposes. The Constitution requires that bond levies be approved by at least 60 percent of the voters at an election where the total number of voters is at least 40 percent of the total at the last preceding general election.

Constitutional Amendment. To amend the Constitution, the amendment must be approved by two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the Legislature, and then approved by a majority of the voters in the next general election.

Summary of Bill:

The Constitution is amended to change the voter approval requirement for school district bonds and bond levies. School districts may: (1) issue general obligation bonds for capital purposes, (2) levy taxes to make payments on those bonds, and (3) exceed a Constitutional debt limit with approval by a simple majority of the voters voting on the proposition.

The Secretary of State must give proper notice of this Constitutional amendment.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.