8209-S

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 there shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article VII, section 2 and Article VIII, section 6 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

(a) By any taxing district when specifically authorized so to do by a majority of at least three-fifths of the ((~~electors~~)) voters thereof 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~~)) voters thereof 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 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: PROVIDED FURTHER, That a proposition under this subsection to levy an additional tax for a school district or a library district is authorized if approved by a majority of the voters voting on the proposition;

(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~~)) voters thereof voting on the proposition to issue such bonds and to pay the principal and interest thereon by an annual tax levy 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((,)): PROVIDED FURTHER, That a proposition under this subsection to levy an additional tax for a school district or library district is authorized if approved by a majority of the voters voting on the proposition: 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.

Article VIII, section 6. No county, city, town, ((~~school district,~~)) or other municipal corporation shall for any purpose become indebted in any manner to an amount exceeding one and one-half ((~~per centum~~)) percent of the taxable property in such county, city, town, school district, or other municipal corporation, without the assent of three-fifths of the voters therein voting at an election to be held for that purpose, nor in cases requiring such assent shall the total indebtedness at any time exceed five ((~~per centum~~)) percent on the value of the taxable property therein, to be ascertained by the last assessment for state and county purposes previous to the incurring of such indebtedness, except that in incorporated cities the assessment shall be taken from the last assessment for city purposes: PROVIDED, That no part of the indebtedness allowed in this section shall be incurred for any purpose other than strictly county, city, town, school district, or other municipal purposes: PROVIDED FURTHER, That (a) any city or town, with such assent, may be allowed to become indebted to a larger amount, but not exceeding five ((~~per centum~~)) percent additional for supplying such city or town with water, artificial light, and sewers, when the works for supplying such water, light, and sewers shall be owned and controlled by the municipality and (b) any school district ((~~with such assent,~~)) or library district may become indebted in excess of one and one-half percent of the taxable property in such district with the assent of a majority of the voters therein voting at an election to be held for that purpose and school districts may be allowed to become indebted to a larger amount but not exceeding five ((~~per centum~~)) percent additional for capital outlays.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the foregoing amendment shall be construed as a single amendment within the meaning of Article XXIII, section 1 of the state Constitution.

The legislature finds that the changes contained in the foregoing amendment constitute a single integrated plan providing for a simple majority of electors voting to authorize school district and library district levies and bonds. If the foregoing amendment is held to be separate amendments, this joint resolution shall be void in its entirety and shall be of no further force and effect.