_______________________________________________
HOUSE
JOINT RESOLUTION 4208
_______________________________________________
Passed
Legislature - 1997 Regular Session
State of Washington 55th
Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By
Read first time 01/31/97.
Referred to Committee on Education.
Allowing
school levies for four-year periods.
BE
IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:
THAT,
At the next general election to be held in this state the secretary of state
shall submit to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and
ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article VII, section 2 of the
Constitution of the state of Washington to read as follows:
Article VII, section 2. Except as hereinafter
provided and notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the
aggregate of all tax levies upon real and personal property by the state and
all taxing districts now existing or hereafter created, shall not in any year
exceed one ((per centum)) percent of the true and fair value of
such property in money: Provided, however, That nothing herein shall
prevent levies at the rates now provided by law by or for any port or public
utility district. The term "taxing district" for the purposes of
this section shall mean any political subdivision, municipal corporation,
district, or other governmental agency authorized by law to levy, or have
levied for it, ad valorem taxes on property, other than a port or public
utility district. Such aggregate limitation or any specific limitation imposed
by law in conformity therewith may be exceeded only as follows:
(a)
By any taxing district when specifically authorized so to do by a majority of
at least three‑fifths of the ((electors thereof)) voters of the
taxing district voting on the proposition to levy such additional tax
submitted not more than twelve months prior to the date on which the proposed
levy is to be made and not oftener than twice in such twelve month period,
either at a special election or at the regular election of such taxing
district, at which election the number of ((persons)) voters
voting "yes" on the proposition shall constitute three‑fifths
of a number equal to forty ((per centum)) percent of the total ((votes
cast)) number of voters voting in such taxing district at the last
preceding general election when the number of ((electors)) voters
voting on the proposition does not exceed forty ((per centum)) percent
of the total ((votes cast)) number of voters voting in such
taxing district in the last preceding general election; or by a majority of at
least three‑fifths of the ((electors thereof)) voters of the
taxing district voting on the proposition to levy when the number of ((electors))
voters voting on the proposition exceeds forty ((percentum)) percent
of the ((total votes cast)) number of voters voting in such
taxing district in the last preceding general election: Provided, That
notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, any proposition
pursuant to this subsection to levy additional tax for the support of the
common schools may provide such support for a ((two year)) period of
up to four years and any proposition to levy an additional tax to support
the construction, modernization, or remodelling of school facilities may
provide such support for a period not exceeding six years;
(b)
By any taxing district otherwise authorized by law to issue general obligation
bonds for capital purposes, for the sole purpose of making the required
payments of principal and interest on general obligation bonds issued solely
for capital purposes, other than the replacement of equipment, when authorized
so to do by majority of at least three‑fifths of the ((electors
thereof)) voters of the taxing district voting on the proposition to
issue such bonds and to pay the principal and interest thereon by ((an))
annual tax ((levy)) levies in excess of the limitation herein
provided during the term of such bonds, submitted not oftener than twice in any
calendar year, at an election held in the manner provided by law for bond
elections in such taxing district, at which election the total number of ((persons))
voters voting on the proposition shall constitute not less than forty ((per
centum)) percent of the total number of ((votes cast)) voters
voting in such taxing district at the last preceding general election: Provided,
That any such taxing district shall have the right by vote of its governing
body to refund any general obligation bonds of said district issued for capital
purposes only, and to provide for the interest thereon and amortization thereof
by annual levies in excess of the tax limitation provided for herein, And
provided further, That the provisions of this section shall also be subject
to the limitations contained in Article VIII, Section 6, of this Constitution;
(c)
By the state or any taxing district ((for the purpose of paying the
principal or interest on general obligation bonds outstanding on December 6,
1934; or)) for the purpose of preventing the impairment of the obligation
of a contract when ordered so to do by a court of last resort.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause
notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four times
during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in
the state.
