HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5019

BYSenators McCaslin and Lee

Permitting excess levies to assist the creation of sewer and water districts to be less than one dollar and twenty-five cents per one thousand dollars of assessed value.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Beck, Bumgarner, Hine, Madsen, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Rayburn, L. Smith and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 2, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The first step in the creation of a new sewer or water district is the presentation of a petition, signed by voters who support the proposed district, to the county legislative authority.  If approved, the proposition goes to a vote within the proposed district.  Two questions appear on the ballot.  The first question calls for voters to decide whether t he district should be formed.  The second question is whether an excess property tax levy should be approved.  The excess levy, appearing on the ballot as a request for one dollar and twenty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed value, is to cover the new district's start-up costs.

SUMMARY:

The excess property tax levy proposition called for in sewer and water district formation elections is allowed to be less than one dollar and twenty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed value.  The amount of the excess levy is to be specified in the petition that commences the formation process.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Senator McCaslin, Prime Sponsor; and Joe Daniels, Washington Association of Water and Wastewater Districts.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Sometimes a district does not need the full $1.25.  This allows local flexibility.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.