Drafter
Clerk 09/24/2025
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AN ORDINANCE updating references to the 2026-2031 Parks Levy in the parks and recreation fund and the parks capital fund; and amending Ordinance 14793, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 4A.200.480 and Ordinance 15966, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 4A.200.490.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Ordinance 14793, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 4A.200.480 are hereby amended to read as follows:
A. There is hereby created the parks and recreation fund.
B. The fund shall be a first tier fund. It is a special revenue fund.
C. The director of the department of natural resources and parks shall be the manager of the fund.
D. The fund shall account for the receipt of tax levy revenues and other moneys, and for the disbursement in accordance with ((this section)) the following:
1.a. The proceeds of the six-year property tax levy approved by the voters of King County on August ((20, 2019)) 5, 2025, under Ordinance ((18890)) 19922, in excess of the levy limitation in chapter 84.55 RCW, shall be deposited, in accordance with Ordinance ((18890, Section 3)) 19922, Section 4,, in a levy subfund of the parks and recreation fund, or its successor((.));
b. The levy proceeds shall be used only for the eligible purposes specified in Ordinance ((18890, Section 4, consistent with Ordinance 18890, Section 6.)) 19922, Section 5;
c. The levy proceeds to be used for the purposes specified in Ordinance ((18890)) 19922, Section ((4.C., D. and E.2)) 5.D., G., H., and I.2. shall be transferred to the parks capital fund created under K.C.C. 4A.200.490; and
d. The levy proceeds to be used for the purposes specified in Ordinance 19922, Section 5.E., shall be transferred to the youth and amateur sports fund created under K.C.C. 4A.200.810.
2. Any other moneys deposited in the fund shall be used for parks and recreation purposes.
E. The fund shall be managed in such a way as to distinguish between proceeds from levies approved under Ordinance ((18890)) 19922, business revenues, as well as parks operating and maintenance expenditures, community grant program expenditures and targeted equity grant program expenditures.
SECTION 2. Ordinance 15966, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 4A.200.490 shall be amended to read as follows:
A. There is hereby created the parks capital fund.
B. The fund shall be a first tier fund. It is a capital projects fund.
C. The director of the department of natural resources and parks shall be the manager of the fund.
D. The fund shall account for the receipt of tax levy revenues and other moneys, and for the disbursement of other moneys for capital parks and recreation purposes.
E. The proceeds of the six-year property tax levy approved by the voters of King County on August 21, 2007, in the fund shall be used only for any of the following eligible purposes:
1. Acquisition of open space and natural lands critical to the preservation of regional watersheds and streams;
2. Acquisition and development of rights of way for regional trails, with primary consideration given to those projects that address health disparities and health inequities as recognized in the Health of King County 2006 report and are consistent with the Regional Trails Plan including acquisition of missing critical links and/or maximization of regional trail use;
3. Repayment of costs, including principal and interest, associated with interim financing following approval of the levy; and
4. To provide up to five hundred thousand dollars annually for capital funding of recreation grant programs.
F.1. The proceeds of the six-year levy approved by the voters of King County on August 20, 2013, in the fund shall be used only for those purposes specified in Ordinance 17568, Section 4.B.
2. Any other moneys deposited in the fund shall be used for capital parks and recreation purposes.
G.1. The proceeds of the six-year levy approved by the voters of King County on August 20, 2019, in the fund shall be used only for those purposes specified in Ordinance 18890, Section 4.C., D. and E.2.
2. Any other moneys deposited in the fund shall be used for capital parks and recreation purposes.
H. The proceeds of the six-year levy approved by the voters on King County on August 5, 2025, in the fund shall be used only for those purposes specified in Ordinance 19922, Section 5.D., F., G., H., and I.2.
2. Any other moneys deposited in the fund shall be used for capital parks and recreation purposes.
((H.)) I. The moneys in the fund from the levies approved under Ordinances 15760, 17568 ((and)), 18890, and 19922 shall be used solely for the eligible purposes authorized by the voters ((and shall not supplant existing funds used for those purposes)).
((I.)) J. The fund shall be managed in such a way as to distinguish levy revenues from any other revenues in the fund.