The legislature recognizes that the state as a whole benefits from investment in public infrastructure because it promotes community and economic development. Public investment stimulates business activity and helps create jobs; stimulates the redevelopment of brownfields and blighted areas in the inner city; lowers the cost of housing; and promotes efficient land use. The legislature finds that these activities generate revenue for the state and that it is in the public interest to invest in these projects through a credit against the state sales and use tax and an allocation of property tax revenue to those sponsoring local governments that can demonstrate the expected returns to the state.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Annual state contribution limit" means seven million five hundred thousand dollars statewide per fiscal year.

(2) "Assessed value" means the valuation of taxable real property as placed on the last completed assessment roll.

(3) "Board" means the community economic revitalization board under chapter 43.160 RCW.

(4) "Dedicated" means pledged, set aside, allocated, received, budgeted, or otherwise identified.

(5) "Demonstration project" means one of the following projects:

(a) Bellingham waterfront redevelopment project;

(b) Spokane river district project at Liberty Lake; and

(c) Vancouver riverwest project.

(6) "Department" means the department of revenue.

(7) "Fiscal year" means the twelve-month period beginning July 1st and ending the following June 30th.

(8) "Local excise tax allocation revenue" means an amount of local excise taxes equal to some or all of the sponsoring local government's local excise tax increment, amounts of local excise taxes equal to some or all of any participating local government's excise tax increment as agreed upon in the written agreement under RCW 39.102.080(1), or both, and dedicated to local infrastructure financing.

(9) "Local excise tax increment" means an amount equal to the estimated annual increase in local excise taxes in each calendar year following the approval of the revenue development area by the board from taxable activity within the revenue development area, as set forth in the application provided to the board under RCW 39.102.040, and updated in accordance with RCW 39.102.140(1)(f).

(10) "Local excise taxes" means local revenues derived from the imposition of sales and use taxes authorized in RCW 82.14.030.

(11) "Local government" means any city, town, county, port district, and any federally recognized Indian tribe.

(12) "Local infrastructure financing" means the use of revenues received from local excise tax allocation revenues, local property tax allocation revenues, other revenues from local public sources, and revenues received from the local option sales and use tax authorized in RCW 82.14.475, dedicated to pay either the principal and interest on bonds authorized under RCW 39.102.150 or to pay public improvement costs on a pay-as-you-go basis subject to RCW 39.102.195, or both.

(13) "Local property tax allocation revenue" means those tax revenues derived from the receipt of regular property taxes levied on the property tax allocation revenue value and used for local infrastructure financing.

(14) "Low-income housing" means residential housing for low-income persons or families who lack the means which is necessary to enable them, without financial assistance, to live in decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings, without overcrowding. For the purposes of this subsection, "low income" means income that does not exceed eighty percent of the median family income for the standard metropolitan statistical area in which the revenue development area is located.

(15) "Ordinance" means any appropriate method of taking legislative action by a local government.

(16) "Participating local government" means a local government having a revenue development area within its geographic boundaries that has entered into a written agreement with a sponsoring local government as provided in RCW 39.102.080 to allow the use of all or some of its local excise tax allocation revenues or other revenues from local public sources dedicated for local infrastructure financing.

(17) "Participating taxing district" means a local government having a revenue development area within its geographic boundaries that has entered into a written agreement with a sponsoring local government as provided in RCW 39.102.080 to allow the use of some or all of its local property tax allocation revenues or other revenues from local public sources dedicated for local infrastructure financing.

(18) "Permanently affordable housing" means housing, regardless of ownership, for which there is a legally binding, recorded document in effect that limits the price at which the owner may sell or restricts the occupancy of the unit to a qualified, low-income household, for a period of at least forty years for a property used for shelter or rental housing, or for a period of at least twenty-five years for a property to be owned by a low-income household. These documents include, but are not limited to, affordability covenants, deed restrictions, and community land trust leases. Resale restrictions exercised by providers of permanently affordable housing can include, but are not limited to:

(a) Continuous ownership of land by a public entity or nonprofit housing provider with a lease allowing ownership of the structure by an income-eligible household;

(b) A nonpossessory interest or right in real property, such as a deed restriction, restrictive covenant, resale restriction[,] or other contractual agreement, that ensures affordability.

(19) "Property tax allocation revenue base value" means the assessed value of real property located within a revenue development area less the property tax allocation revenue value.

(20)(a)(i) "Property tax allocation revenue value" means seventy-five percent of any increase in the assessed value of real property in a revenue development area resulting from:

(A) The placement of new construction, improvements to property, or both, on the assessment roll, where the new construction and improvements are initiated after the revenue development area is approved by the board;

(B) The cost of new housing construction, conversion, and rehabilitation improvements, when such cost is treated as new construction for purposes of chapter 84.55 RCW as provided in RCW 84.14.020, and the new housing construction, conversion, and rehabilitation improvements are initiated after the revenue development area is approved by the board;

(C) The cost of rehabilitation of historic property, when such cost is treated as new construction for purposes of chapter 84.55 RCW as provided in RCW 84.26.070, and the rehabilitation is initiated after the revenue development area is approved by the board.

(ii) Increases in the assessed value of real property in a revenue development area resulting from (a)(i)(A) through (C) of this subsection are included in the property tax allocation revenue value in the initial year. These same amounts are also included in the property tax allocation revenue value in subsequent years unless the property becomes exempt from property taxation.

(b) "Property tax allocation revenue value" includes seventy-five percent of any increase in the assessed value of new construction consisting of an entire building in the years following the initial year, unless the building becomes exempt from property taxation.

(c) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, "property tax allocation revenue value" does not include any increase in the assessed value of real property after the initial year.

(d) There is no property tax allocation revenue value if the assessed value of real property in a revenue development area has not increased as a result of any of the reasons specified in (a)(i)(A) through (C) of this subsection.

(e) For purposes of this subsection, "initial year" means:

(i) For new construction and improvements to property added to the assessment roll, the year during which the new construction and improvements are initially placed on the assessment roll;

(ii) For the cost of new housing construction, conversion, and rehabilitation improvements, when such cost is treated as new construction for purposes of chapter 84.55 RCW, the year when such cost is treated as new construction for purposes of levying taxes for collection in the following year; and

(iii) For the cost of rehabilitation of historic property, when such cost is treated as new construction for purposes of chapter 84.55 RCW, the year when such cost is treated as new construction for purposes of levying taxes for collection in the following year.

(21) "Public improvement costs" means the cost of: (a) Design, planning, acquisition including land acquisition, site preparation including land clearing, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement, and installation of public improvements; (b) demolishing, relocating, maintaining, and operating property pending construction of public improvements; (c) the local government's portion of relocating utilities as a result of public improvements; (d) financing public improvements, including interest during construction, legal and other professional services, taxes, insurance, principal and interest costs on general indebtedness issued to finance public improvements, and any necessary reserves for general indebtedness; (e) assessments incurred in revaluing real property for the purpose of determining the property tax allocation revenue base value that are in excess of costs incurred by the assessor in accordance with the revaluation plan under chapter 84.41 RCW, and the costs of apportioning the taxes and complying with this chapter and other applicable law; (f) administrative expenses and feasibility studies reasonably necessary and related to these costs; and (g) any of the above-described costs that may have been incurred before adoption of the ordinance authorizing the public improvements and the use of local infrastructure financing to fund the costs of the public improvements.

(22) "Public improvements" means:

(a) Infrastructure improvements within the revenue development area that include:

(i) Street, bridge, and road construction and maintenance, including highway interchange construction;

(ii) Water and sewer system construction and improvements, including wastewater reuse facilities;

(iii) Sidewalks, traffic controls, and streetlights;

(iv) Parking, terminal, and dock facilities;

(v) Park and ride facilities of a transit authority;

(vi) Park facilities and recreational areas, including trails; and

(vii) Stormwater and drainage management systems;

(b) Expenditures for facilities and improvements that support affordable housing as defined in RCW 43.63A.510; and

(c) Expenditures to purchase, rehabilitate, retrofit for energy efficiency, and construct housing for the purpose of creating or preserving permanently affordable housing.

(23) "Real property" has the same meaning as in RCW 84.04.090 and also includes any privately owned improvements located on publicly owned land that are subject to property taxation.

(24) "Regular property taxes" means regular property taxes as defined in RCW 84.04.140, except: (a) Regular property taxes levied by public utility districts specifically for the purpose of making required payments of principal and interest on general indebtedness; (b) regular property taxes levied by the state for the support of the common schools under RCW 84.52.065; and (c) regular property taxes authorized by RCW 84.55.050 that are limited to a specific purpose. "Regular property taxes" do not include excess property tax levies that are exempt from the aggregate limits for junior and senior taxing districts as provided in RCW 84.52.043.

(25) "Relocating a business" means the closing of a business and the reopening of that business, or the opening of a new business that engages in the same activities as the previous business, in a different location within a one-year period, when an individual or entity has an ownership interest in the business at the time of closure and at the time of opening or reopening. "Relocating a business" does not include the closing and reopening of a business in a new location where the business has been acquired and is under entirely new ownership at the new location, or the closing and reopening of a business in a new location as a result of the exercise of the power of eminent domain.

(26) "Revenue development area" means the geographic area adopted by a sponsoring local government and approved by the board, from which local excise and property tax allocation revenues are derived for local infrastructure financing.

(27)(a) "Revenues from local public sources" means:

(i) Amounts of local excise tax allocation revenues and local property tax allocation revenues, dedicated by sponsoring local governments, participating local governments, and participating taxing districts, for local infrastructure financing; and

(ii) Any other local revenues, except as provided in (b) of this subsection, including revenues derived from federal and private sources.

(b) Revenues from local public sources do not include any local funds derived from state grants, state loans, or any other state moneys including any local sales and use taxes credited against the state sales and use taxes imposed under chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW.

(28) "Small business" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 19.85.020.

(29) "Sponsoring local government" means a city, town, or county, and for the purpose of this chapter a federally recognized Indian tribe or any combination thereof, that adopts a revenue development area and applies to the board to use local infrastructure financing.

(30) "State contribution" means the lesser of:

(a) One million dollars;

(b) The total amount of local excise tax allocation revenues, local property tax allocation revenues, and other revenues from local public sources, that are dedicated by a sponsoring local government, any participating local governments, and participating taxing districts, in the preceding calendar year to the payment of principal and interest on bonds issued under RCW 39.102.150 or to pay public improvement costs on a pay-as-you-go basis subject to RCW 39.102.195, or both. Revenues from local public sources dedicated in the preceding calendar year that are in excess of the project award may be carried forward and used in later years for the purpose of this subsection (30)(b);

(c) The amount of project award granted by the board in the notice of approval to use local infrastructure financing under RCW 39.102.040; or

(d) The highest amount of state excise tax allocation revenues and state property tax allocation revenues for any one calendar year as determined by the sponsoring local government and reported to the board and the department as required by RCW 39.102.140.

(31) "State excise tax allocation revenue" means an amount equal to the annual increase in state excise taxes estimated to be received by the state in each calendar year following the approval of the revenue development area by the board, from taxable activity within the revenue development area as set forth in the application provided to the board under RCW 39.102.040 and periodically updated and reported as required in RCW 39.102.140(1)(f).

(32) "State excise taxes" means revenues derived from state retail sales and use taxes under RCW 82.08.020(1) and 82.12.020 at the rate provided in RCW 82.08.020(1), less the amount of tax distributions from all local retail sales and use taxes, other than the local sales and use taxes authorized by RCW 82.14.475 for the applicable revenue development area, imposed on the same taxable events that are credited against the state retail sales and use taxes under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW.

(33) "State property tax allocation revenue" means an amount equal to the estimated tax revenues derived from the imposition of property taxes levied by the state for the support of common schools under RCW 84.52.065 on the property tax allocation revenue value, as set forth in the application submitted to the board under RCW 39.102.040 and updated annually in the report required under RCW 39.102.140(1)(f).

(34) "Taxing district" means a government entity that levies or has levied for it regular property taxes upon real property located within a proposed or approved revenue development area.

Reviser's note: The definitions in this section have been alphabetized pursuant to RCW 1.08.015(2)(k).

Application—2007 c 229: "This act applies retroactively as well as prospectively." [ 2007 c 229 § 15.]

Severability—2007 c 229: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 2007 c 229 § 16.]

The local infrastructure financing tool program is created to assist local governments in financing authorized public infrastructure projects designed to promote economic development in the jurisdiction. The local infrastructure financing tool program is not created to enable existing Washington-based businesses from outside a revenue development area to relocate into a revenue development area.

(1) Prior to applying to the board to use local infrastructure financing, a sponsoring local government shall:

(a) Designate a revenue development area within the limitations in RCW 39.102.060;

(b) Certify that the conditions in RCW 39.102.070 are met;

(c) Complete the process in RCW 39.102.080;

(d) Provide public notice as required in RCW 39.102.100; and

(e) Pass an ordinance adopting the revenue development area as required in RCW 39.102.090.

(2) Any local government that has created an increment area under chapter 39.89 RCW and has not issued bonds to finance any public improvement may apply to the board and have its increment area considered for approval as a revenue development area under this chapter without adopting a new revenue development area under RCW 39.102.090 and 39.102.100 if it amends its ordinance to comply with RCW 39.102.090(1) and otherwise meets the conditions and limitations under this chapter.

(3) As a condition to imposing a sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.475, a sponsoring local government, including any cosponsoring local government seeking authority to impose a sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.475, must apply to the board and be approved for a project award amount. The application shall be in a form and manner prescribed by the board and include but not be limited to information establishing that the applicant is an eligible candidate to impose the local sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.475, the anticipated effective date for imposing the tax, the estimated number of years that the tax will be imposed, and the estimated amount of tax revenue to be received in each fiscal year that the tax will be imposed. The board shall make available forms to be used for this purpose. As part of the application, each applicant must provide to the board a copy of the ordinance or ordinances creating the revenue development area as required in RCW 39.102.090. A notice of approval to use local infrastructure financing shall contain a project award that represents the maximum amount of state contribution that the applicant, including any cosponsoring local governments, can earn each year that local infrastructure financing is used. The total of all project awards shall not exceed the annual state contribution limit. The determination of a project award shall be made based on information contained in the application and the remaining amount of annual state contribution limit to be awarded. Determination of a project award by the board is final.

(4)(a) Sponsoring local governments, and any cosponsoring local governments, applying in calendar year 2007 for a competitive project award, must submit completed applications to the board no later than July 1, 2007. By September 15, 2007, in consultation with the department of revenue and the department of commerce, the board shall approve competitive project awards from competitive applications submitted by the 2007 deadline. No more than two million five hundred thousand dollars in competitive project awards shall be approved in 2007. For projects not approved by the board in 2007, sponsoring and cosponsoring local governments may apply again to the board in 2008 for approval of a project.

(b) Sponsoring local governments, and any cosponsoring local governments, applying in calendar year 2008 for a competitive project award, must submit completed applications to the board no later than July 1, 2008. By September 18, 2008, in consultation with the department of revenue and the department of commerce, the board shall approve competitive project awards from competitive applications submitted by the 2008 deadline.

(c) Except as provided in RCW 39.102.050(2), a total of no more than five million dollars in competitive project awards shall be approved for local infrastructure financing.

(d) The project selection criteria and weighting developed prior to July 22, 2007, for the application evaluation and approval process shall apply to applications received prior to November 1, 2007. In evaluating applications for a competitive project award after November 1, 2007, the board shall develop the relative weight to be assigned to the following criteria:

(i) The project's potential to enhance the sponsoring local government's regional and/or international competitiveness;

(ii) The project's ability to encourage mixed use and transit-oriented development and the redevelopment of a geographic area;

(iii) Achieving an overall distribution of projects statewide that reflect geographic diversity;

(iv) The estimated wages and benefits for the project is greater than the average labor market area;

(v) The estimated state and local net employment change over the life of the project;

(vi) The current economic health and vitality of the proposed revenue development area and the contiguous community and the estimated impact of the proposed project on the proposed revenue development area and contiguous community;

(vii) The estimated state and local net property tax change over the life of the project;

(viii) The estimated state and local sales and use tax increase over the life of the project;

(ix) An analysis that shows that, over the life of the project, neither the local excise tax allocation revenues nor the local property tax allocation revenues will constitute more than eighty percent of the total local funds as described in *RCW 39.102.020(29)(b); and

(x) If a project is located within an urban growth area, evidence that the project utilizes existing urban infrastructure and that the transportation needs of the project will be adequately met through the use of local infrastructure financing or other sources.

(e)(i) Except as provided in this subsection (4)(e), the board may not approve the use of local infrastructure financing within more than one revenue development area per county.

(ii) In a county in which the board has approved the use of local infrastructure financing, the use of such financing in additional revenue development areas may be approved, subject to the following conditions:

(A) The sponsoring local government is located in more than one county; and

(B) The sponsoring local government designates a revenue development area that comprises portions of a county within which the use of local infrastructure financing has not yet been approved.

(iii) In a county where the local infrastructure financing tool is authorized under RCW 39.102.050, the board may approve additional use of the local infrastructure financing tool.

(5) Once the board has approved the sponsoring local government, and any cosponsoring local governments, to use local infrastructure financing, notification must be sent by the board to the sponsoring local government, and any cosponsoring local governments, authorizing the sponsoring local government, and any cosponsoring local governments, to impose the local sales and use tax authorized under RCW 82.14.475, subject to the conditions in RCW 82.14.475.

*Reviser's note: RCW 39.102.020 was amended by 2020 c 280 § 2, changing subsection (29)(b) to subsection (30)(b).

Application—Severability—2007 c 229: See notes following RCW 39.102.020.

(1) In addition to a competitive process, demonstration projects are provided to determine the feasibility of the local infrastructure financing tool. Notwithstanding RCW 39.102.040, the board shall approve each demonstration project. Demonstration project applications must be received by the board no later than July 1, 2008. The Bellingham waterfront redevelopment project award shall not exceed one million dollars per year, the Spokane river district project award shall not exceed one million dollars per year, and the Vancouver riverwest project award shall not exceed five hundred thousand dollars per year. The board shall approve by September 15, 2007, demonstration project applications submitted no later than July 1, 2007. The board shall approve by September 18, 2008, demonstration project applications submitted by July 1, 2008.

(2) If before board approval of the final competitive project award in 2008, a demonstration project has not received approval by the board, the state dollars set aside for the demonstration project in subsection (1) of this section shall be available for the competitive application process. If a demonstration project has received a partial award before the approval of the final competitive project award, the remaining state dollars set aside for the demonstration project in subsection (1) of this section shall be available for the competitive process.

Application—Severability—2007 c 229: See notes following RCW 39.102.020.

The designation of a revenue development area is subject to the following limitations:

(1) The taxable real property within the revenue development area boundaries may not exceed one billion dollars in assessed value at the time the revenue development area is designated;

(2) The average assessed value per square foot of taxable land within the revenue development area boundaries, as of January 1st of the year the application is submitted to the board under RCW 39.102.040, may not exceed seventy dollars at the time the revenue development area is designated;

(3) No revenue development area shall have within its geographic boundaries any part of a hospital benefit zone under chapter 39.100 RCW or any part of another revenue development area created under this chapter;

(4) A revenue development area is limited to contiguous tracts, lots, pieces, or parcels of land without the creation of islands of property not included in the revenue development area;

(5) The boundaries may not be drawn to purposely exclude parcels where economic growth is unlikely to occur;

(6) The public improvements financed through local infrastructure financing must be located in the revenue development area;

(7) A revenue development area cannot comprise an area containing more than twenty-five percent of the total assessed value of the taxable real property within the boundaries of the sponsoring local government, including any cosponsoring local government, at the time the revenue development area is designated;

(8) The boundaries of the revenue development area shall not be changed for the time period that local infrastructure financing is used; and

(9) A revenue development area cannot include any part of an increment area created under chapter 39.89 RCW, except those increment areas created prior to January 1, 2006.

Application—Severability—2007 c 229: See notes following RCW 39.102.020.

The use of local infrastructure financing under this chapter is subject to the following conditions:

(1) No funds may be used to finance, design, acquire, construct, equip, operate, maintain, remodel, repair, or reequip public facilities funded with taxes collected under RCW 82.14.048 or 82.14.390;

(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection no funds may be used for public improvements other than projects identified within the capital facilities, utilities, housing, or transportation element of a comprehensive plan required under chapter 36.70A RCW;

(b) Funds may be used for public improvements that are historical preservation activities as defined in RCW 39.89.020;

(3) The public improvements proposed to be financed in whole or in part using local infrastructure financing are expected to encourage private development within the revenue development area and to increase the fair market value of real property within the revenue development area;

(4) A sponsoring local government, participating local government, or participating taxing district has entered or expects to enter into a contract with a private developer relating to the development of private improvements within the revenue development area or has received a letter of intent from a private developer relating to the developer's plans for the development of private improvements within the revenue development area;

(5) Private development that is anticipated to occur within the revenue development area, as a result of the public improvements, will be consistent with the countywide planning policy adopted by the county under RCW 36.70A.210 and the local government's comprehensive plan and development regulations adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW;

(6) The governing body of the sponsoring local government, and any cosponsoring local government, must make a finding that local infrastructure financing:

(a) Is not expected to be used for the purpose of relocating a business from outside the revenue development area, but within this state, into the revenue development area; and

(b) Will improve the viability of existing business entities within the revenue development area;

(7) The governing body of the sponsoring local government, and any cosponsoring local government, finds that the public improvements proposed to be financed in whole or in part using local infrastructure financing are reasonably likely to:

(a) Increase private residential and commercial investment within the revenue development area;

(b) Increase employment within the revenue development area;

(c) Improve the viability of any existing communities that are based on mixed-use development within the revenue development area; and

(d) Generate, over the period of time that the local option sales and use tax will be imposed under RCW 82.14.475, state excise tax allocation revenues and state property tax allocation revenues derived from the revenue development area that are equal to or greater than the respective state contributions made under this chapter;

(8) The sponsoring local government may only use local infrastructure financing in areas deemed in need of economic development or redevelopment within boundaries of the sponsoring local government.

Before adopting an ordinance creating the revenue development area, a sponsoring local government must:

(1) Obtain written agreement from any participating local government and participating taxing district to use dedicated amounts of local excise tax allocation revenues, local property tax allocation revenues, and other revenues from local public sources in whole or in part, for local infrastructure financing authorized under this chapter. The agreement to opt into the local infrastructure financing public improvement project must be authorized by the governing body of such participating local government and participating taxing district;

(2) Estimate the impact of the revenue development area on small business and low-income housing and develop a mitigation plan for the impacted businesses and housing. In analyzing the impact of the revenue development area, the sponsoring local government must develop:

(a) An inventory of existing low-income housing units, and businesses and retail activity within the revenue development area;

(b) A reasonable estimate of the number of low-income housing units, small businesses, and other commercial activity that may be vulnerable to displacement within the revenue development area;

(c) A reasonable estimate of projected net job growth and net housing growth caused by creation of the revenue development area when compared to the existing jobs or housing balance for the area; and

(d) A reasonable estimate of the impact of net housing growth on the current housing price mix.

(1) To adopt a revenue development area, a sponsoring local government, and any cosponsoring local government, must adopt an ordinance establishing the revenue development area that:

(a) Describes the public improvements proposed to be made in the revenue development area;

(b) Describes the boundaries of the revenue development area, subject to the limitations in RCW 39.102.060;

(c) Estimates the cost of the proposed public improvements and the portion of these costs to be financed by local infrastructure financing;

(d) Estimates the time during which local excise tax allocation revenues, local property tax allocation revenues, and other revenues from local public sources are to be used for local infrastructure financing;

(e) Provides the date when the use of local excise tax allocation revenues and local property tax allocation revenues will commence; and

(f) Finds that the conditions in RCW 39.102.070 are met and the findings in RCW 39.102.080 are complete.

(2) The sponsoring local government, and any cosponsoring local government, must hold a public hearing on the proposed financing of the public improvements in whole or in part with local infrastructure financing before passage of the ordinance establishing the revenue development area. The public hearing may be held by either the governing body of the sponsoring local government and the governing body of any cosponsoring local government, or by a committee of those governing bodies that includes at least a majority of the whole governing body or bodies. The public hearing is subject to the notice requirements in RCW 39.102.100.

(3) The sponsoring local government, and any cosponsoring local government, shall deliver a certified copy of the adopted ordinance to the county treasurer, the governing body of each participating local government and participating taxing district within which the revenue development area is located, the board, and the department.

Application—Severability—2007 c 229: See notes following RCW 39.102.020.

Prior to adopting the ordinance creating the revenue development area and to meet the requirements of *RCW 39.102.150(1)(b), a sponsoring local government and any cosponsoring local government must provide public notice.

(1) Notice of the public hearing must be published in a legal newspaper of general circulation within the proposed revenue development area at least ten days before the public hearing and posted in at least six conspicuous public places located in the proposed revenue development area.

(2) Notice must also be sent by United States mail to the property owners, all identifiable community-based organizations with involvement in the proposed revenue development area, and the business enterprises located within the proposed revenue development area at least thirty days prior to the hearing. In implementing provisions under this chapter, the local governing body may also consult with community-based groups, business organizations, including the local chamber of commerce, and the office of minority and women's business enterprises to assist with providing appropriate notice to business enterprises and property owners for whom English is a second language.

(3) Notices must describe the contemplated public improvements, estimate the public improvement costs, describe the portion of the public improvement costs to be borne by local infrastructure financing, describe any other sources of revenue to finance the public improvements, describe the boundaries of the proposed revenue development area, estimate the impact that the public improvements will have on small businesses and low-income housing, and estimate the period during which local infrastructure financing is contemplated to be used.

(4) Notices must inform the public where to obtain the information that shows how the limitations, conditions, and findings required in RCW 39.102.060 through 39.102.080 are met.

(5) The sponsoring local government and any cosponsoring local government shall deliver a certified copy of the proposed ordinance to the county treasurer, the governing body of each participating local government and participating taxing district within which the revenue development area is located, the board, and the department.

*Reviser's note: RCW 39.102.150 was amended by 2009 c 267 § 6, changing subsection (1)(b) to subsection (1)(a)(ii).

(1) A sponsoring local government or participating local government that has received approval by the board to use local infrastructure financing may use annually its local excise tax allocation revenues to finance public improvements in the revenue development area financed in whole or in part by local infrastructure financing. The use of local excise tax allocation revenues dedicated by participating local governments must cease on the date specified in the written agreement required in RCW 39.102.080(1), or if no date is specified then the date when the local tax under RCW 82.14.475 expires. Any participating local government is authorized to dedicate local excise tax allocation revenues to the sponsoring local government as authorized in RCW 39.102.080(1).

(2) A sponsoring local government shall provide the board accurate information describing the geographical boundaries of the revenue development area at the time of application. The information shall be provided in an electronic format or manner as prescribed by the department. The sponsoring local government shall ensure that the boundary information provided to the board and department is kept current.

(3) In the event a city annexes a county area located within a county-sponsored revenue development area, the city shall remit to the county the portion of the local excise tax allocation revenue that the county would have received had the area not been annexed to the city. The city shall remit such revenues until such time as the bonds issued under RCW 39.102.150 are retired.

Application—Severability—2007 c 229: See notes following RCW 39.102.020.

(1) Commencing in the second calendar year following board approval of a revenue development area, the county treasurer shall distribute receipts from regular taxes imposed on real property located in the revenue development area as follows:

(a) Each participating taxing district and the sponsoring local government shall receive that portion of its regular property taxes produced by the rate of tax levied by or for the taxing district on the property tax allocation revenue base value for that local infrastructure financing project in the taxing district; and

(b) The sponsoring local government shall receive an additional portion of the regular property taxes levied by it and by or for each participating taxing district upon the property tax allocation revenue value within the revenue development area. However, if there is no property tax allocation revenue value, the sponsoring local government shall not receive any additional regular property taxes under this subsection (1)(b). The sponsoring local government may agree to receive less than the full amount of the additional portion of regular property taxes under this subsection (1)(b) as long as bond debt service, reserve, and other bond covenant requirements are satisfied, in which case the balance of these tax receipts shall be allocated to the participating taxing districts that levied regular property taxes, or have regular property taxes levied for them, in the revenue development area for collection that year in proportion to their regular tax levy rates for collection that year. The sponsoring local government may request that the treasurer transfer this additional portion of the property taxes to its designated agent. The portion of the tax receipts distributed to the sponsoring local government or its agent under this subsection (1)(b) may only be expended to finance public improvement costs associated with the public improvements financed in whole or in part by local infrastructure financing.

(2) The county assessor shall determine the property tax allocation revenue value and property tax allocation revenue base value. This section does not authorize revaluations of real property by the assessor for property taxation that are not made in accordance with the assessor's revaluation plan under chapter 84.41 RCW or under other authorized revaluation procedures.

(3) The distribution of local property tax allocation revenue to the sponsoring local government must cease when local property tax allocation revenues are no longer obligated to pay the costs of the public improvements. Any excess local property tax allocation revenues and earnings on such revenues remaining at the time the distribution of local property tax allocation revenue terminates must be returned to the county treasurer and distributed to the participating taxing districts that imposed regular property taxes, or had regular property taxes imposed for it, in the revenue development area for collection that year, in proportion to the rates of their regular property tax levies for collection that year.

(4) The allocation to the revenue development area of that portion of the sponsoring local government's and each participating taxing district's regular property taxes levied by or for each taxing district upon the property tax allocation revenue value within that revenue development area is declared to be a public purpose of and benefit to the sponsoring local government and each participating taxing district.

(5) The distribution of local property tax allocation revenues pursuant to this section shall not affect or be deemed to affect the rate of taxes levied by or within any sponsoring local government and participating taxing district or the consistency of any such levies with the uniformity requirement of Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution.

(6) This section does not apply to those revenue development areas that include any part of an increment area created under chapter 39.89 RCW.

Application—Severability—2007 c 229: See notes following RCW 39.102.020.

Money collected from the taxes imposed under RCW 82.14.475 may be used only for the purpose of paying debt service on bonds issued under the authority of RCW 39.102.150 or to pay public improvement costs on a pay-as-you-go basis as provided in RCW 39.102.195, or both.

Application—Severability—2007 c 229: See notes following RCW 39.102.020.

(1) A sponsoring local government shall provide a report to the board and the department by March 1st of each year. The report shall contain the following information:

(a) The amount of local excise tax allocation revenues, local property tax allocation revenues, other revenues from local public sources, and taxes under RCW 82.14.475 received by the sponsoring local government, cosponsoring local government, or any participating local government during the preceding calendar year that were dedicated to pay the public improvements financed in whole or in part with local infrastructure financing, and a summary of how these revenues were expended;

(b) The names of any businesses locating within the revenue development area as a result of the public improvements undertaken by the sponsoring local government and financed in whole or in part with local infrastructure financing;

(c) The total number of permanent jobs created in the revenue development area as a result of the public improvements undertaken by the sponsoring local government and financed in whole or in part with local infrastructure financing;

(d) The average wages and benefits received by all employees of businesses locating within the revenue development area as a result of the public improvements undertaken by the sponsoring local government and financed in whole or in part with local infrastructure financing;

(e) That the sponsoring local government is in compliance with RCW 39.102.070; and

(f) Beginning with the reports due March 1, 2010, the following must also be included:

(i) A list of public improvements financed on a pay-as-you-go basis in previous calendar years and by indebtedness issued under this chapter;

(ii) The date when any indebtedness issued under this chapter is expected to be retired;

(iii) At least once every three years, updated estimates of state excise tax allocation revenues, state property tax allocation revenues, and local excise tax increments, as determined by the sponsoring local government, that are estimated to have been received by the state, any participating local government, sponsoring local government, and cosponsoring local government, since the approval of the project award under RCW 39.102.040 by the board; and

(iv) Any other information required by the department or the board to enable the department or the board to fulfill its duties under this chapter and RCW 82.14.475.

(2) The board shall make a report available to the public and the legislature by June 1st of each even-numbered year. The report shall include a list of public improvements undertaken by sponsoring local governments and financed in whole or in part with local infrastructure financing and it shall also include a summary of the information provided to the department by sponsoring local governments under subsection (1) of this section.

(3) The department, upon request, must assist a sponsoring local government in estimating the amount of state excise tax allocation revenues and local excise tax increments required in subsection (1)(f)(iii) of this section.

Application—Severability—2007 c 229: See notes following RCW 39.102.020.

(1) A sponsoring local government that has designated a revenue development area and instead of paying public improvement costs on a pay-as-you-go basis has been authorized the use of local infrastructure financing may incur general indebtedness, including issuing general obligation bonds, to finance the public improvements and retire the indebtedness in whole or in part from local excise tax allocation revenues, local property tax allocation revenues, and sales and use taxes imposed under the authority of RCW 82.14.475 that it receives, subject to the following requirements:

(a)(i) The ordinance adopted by the sponsoring local government and authorizing the use of local infrastructure financing indicates an intent to incur this indebtedness and the maximum amount of this indebtedness that is contemplated; and

(ii) The sponsoring local government includes this statement of the intent in all notices required by RCW 39.102.100; or

(b) The sponsoring local government adopts a resolution, after opportunity for public comment, that indicates an intent to incur this indebtedness and the maximum amount of this indebtedness that is contemplated.

(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the general indebtedness incurred under subsection (1) of this section may be payable from other tax revenues, the full faith and credit of the local government, and nontax income, revenues, fees, and rents from the public improvements, as well as contributions, grants, and nontax money available to the local government for payment of costs of the public improvements or associated debt service on the general indebtedness.

(b) A sponsoring local government that issues bonds under this section may not pledge any money received from the state of Washington for the payment of such bonds, other than the local sales and use taxes imposed under the authority of RCW 82.14.475 and collected by the department.

(3) In addition to the requirements in subsection (1) of this section, a sponsoring local government designating a revenue development area and authorizing the use of local infrastructure financing may require the nonpublic participant to provide adequate security to protect the public investment in the public improvement within the revenue development area.

(4) Bonds issued under this section must be authorized by ordinance of the governing body of the sponsoring local government and may be issued in one or more series and must bear such date or dates, be payable upon demand or mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denomination or denominations, be in such form either coupon or registered as provided in RCW 39.46.030, carry such conversion or registration privileges, have such rank or priority, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment, at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption with or without premium, be secured in such manner, and have such other characteristics, as may be provided by such ordinance or trust indenture or mortgage issued pursuant thereto.

(5) The sponsoring local government may annually pay into a fund to be established for the benefit of bonds issued under this section a fixed proportion or a fixed amount of any local excise tax allocation revenues and local property tax allocation revenues derived from property or business activity within the revenue development area containing the public improvements funded by the bonds, such payment to continue until all bonds payable from the fund are paid in full. The local government may also annually pay into the fund established in this section a fixed proportion or a fixed amount of any revenues derived from taxes imposed under RCW 82.14.475, such payment to continue until all bonds payable from the fund are paid in full. Revenues derived from taxes imposed under RCW 82.14.475 are subject to the use restriction in RCW 39.102.130.

(6) In case any of the public officials of the sponsoring local government whose signatures appear on any bonds or any coupons issued under this chapter cease to be such officials before the delivery of such bonds, such signatures, nevertheless, are valid and sufficient for all purposes, the same as if such officials had remained in office until such delivery. Any provision of any law to the contrary notwithstanding, any bonds issued under this chapter are fully negotiable.

(7) Notwithstanding subsections (4) through (6) of this section, bonds issued under this section may be issued and sold in accordance with chapter 39.46 RCW.

Application—Severability—2007 c 229: See notes following RCW 39.102.020.

A sponsoring local government that issues bonds under RCW 39.102.150 to finance public improvements may pledge for the payment of such bonds all or part of any local excise tax allocation revenues and all or part of any local property tax allocation revenues dedicated by the sponsoring local government, any participating local government, or participating taxing district. The sponsoring local government may also pledge all or part of any revenues derived from taxes imposed under RCW 82.14.475 and held in connection with the public improvements. All of such tax revenues are subject to the use restrictions in RCW 39.102.040 through 39.102.070, and the process requirements in RCW 39.102.080(1).

The bonds issued by a sponsoring local government under RCW 39.102.150 to finance public improvements shall not constitute an obligation of the state of Washington, either general or special.

(1) A sponsoring local government may issue revenue bonds to fund revenue-generating public improvements, or portions of public improvements, that are located within a revenue development area. Whenever revenue bonds are to be issued, the legislative authority of the sponsoring local government shall create or have created a special fund or funds from which, along with any reserves created pursuant to RCW 39.44.140, the principal and interest on these revenue bonds shall exclusively be payable. The legislative authority of the sponsoring local government may obligate the sponsoring local government to set aside and pay into the special fund or funds a fixed proportion or a fixed amount of the revenues from the public improvements that are funded by the revenue bonds. This amount or proportion is a lien and charge against these revenues, subject only to operating and maintenance expenses. The sponsoring local government shall have due regard for the cost of operation and maintenance of the public improvements that are funded by the revenue bonds, and shall not set aside into the special fund or funds a greater amount or proportion of the revenues that in its judgment will be available over and above the cost of maintenance and operation and the amount or proportion, if any, of the revenue previously pledged. The sponsoring local government may also provide that revenue bonds payable out of the same source or sources of revenue may later be issued on a parity with any revenue bonds being issued and sold.

(2) Revenue bonds issued pursuant to this section are not an indebtedness of the sponsoring local government issuing the bonds, and the interest and principal on the bonds shall only be payable from the revenues lawfully pledged to meet the principal and interest requirements and any reserves created pursuant to RCW 39.44.140. The owner or bearer of a revenue bond or any interest coupon issued pursuant to this section shall not have any claim against the sponsoring local government arising from the bond or coupon except for payment from the revenues lawfully pledged to meet the principal and interest requirements and any reserves created pursuant to RCW 39.44.140. The substance of the limitations included in this subsection shall be plainly printed, written, or engraved on each bond issued pursuant to this section.

(3) Revenue bonds with a maturity in excess of twenty-five years shall not be issued. The legislative authority of the sponsoring local government shall by resolution determine for each revenue bond issue the amount, date, form, terms, conditions, denominations, maximum fixed or variable interest rate or rates, maturity or maturities, redemption rights, registration privileges, manner of execution, manner of sale, callable provisions, if any, and covenants including the refunding of existing revenue bonds. Facsimile signatures may be used on the bonds and any coupons. Refunding revenue bonds may be issued in the same manner as revenue bonds are issued.

(4) Notwithstanding subsections (1) through (3) of this section, bonds issued under this section may be issued and sold in accordance with chapter 39.46 RCW.

To the extent that amounts received as local excise tax allocation revenues, local property tax allocation revenues, other revenues from local public sources, that are dedicated to local infrastructure financing, and revenues received from the local option sales and use tax authorized in RCW 82.14.475, are set aside in a debt service fund that is pledged to the repayment of bonds, those amounts so set aside and pledged may not be used to pay for public improvement costs on a pay-as-you-go basis after the date that the sponsoring local government that issued the bonds as provided in RCW 39.102.150 is required to begin paying debt service on those bonds, unless and until those bonds to which the amounts have been so pledged have been retired.

Application—Severability—2007 c 229: See notes following RCW 39.102.020.

Beginning September 1, 2013, and continuing every five years thereafter, the joint legislative audit and review committee shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature.

(1) The report shall, at a minimum, evaluate the effectiveness of the local infrastructure financing tool program, including a project-by-project review. The report shall evaluate the project's interim results based on the selection criteria. The report shall also measure:

(a) Employment changes in the revenue development area;

(b) Property tax changes in the revenue development area;

(c) Sales and use tax changes in the revenue development area;

(d) Property value changes in the revenue development area; and

(e) Changes in housing and existing commercial activities based on the impact analysis and mitigation plan required in RCW 39.102.080(2).

(2) The report that is due September 1, 2028, should also include any recommendations regarding whether or not the program should be expanded statewide and what impact the expansion would have on economic development in Washington.

The department of revenue and the community economic revitalization board shall evaluate and periodically report on the implementation of the local infrastructure financing [tool] program to the governor and legislature as the department and the board deems appropriate and recommend such amendments, changes in, and modifications of chapter 181, Laws of 2006 as seem proper.

The department of revenue and the community economic revitalization board may adopt any rules under chapter 34.05 RCW they consider necessary for the administration of this chapter.

Application—Severability—2007 c 229: See notes following RCW 39.102.020.

Nothing in this act shall be construed to give port districts the authority to impose a sales or use tax under chapter 82.14 RCW.

This act takes effect July 1, 2006.

This chapter expires June 30, 2044.