Drafter
Clerk 05/03/2013
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A MOTION directing the office of performance, strategy and budget to work cooperatively with fire protection districts in King County to ensure that King County property taxes do not impair fire protection district tax revenues through prorationing.
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WHEREAS, fire protection districts in King County provide vital services to protect lives and property in our region, and
WHEREAS, certain fire protection districts in King County have expressed the concern that property taxes levied by King County could cause the levies of one or more fire districts to be prorated, and
WHEREAS, state law provides governments with a number of tools to ensure that one jurisdiction's levies do not impact the revenues of other jurisdictions, and
WHEREAS, RCW 36.32.470 authorizes counties to provide financial assistance to jurisdictions within the county for the purpose of implementing the fire protection, ambulance, medical or other emergency services, and
WHEREAS, under RCW 36.32.470, counties may enter into agreements to compensate fire districts impacted by prorationing, and
WHEREAS, King County wants to ensure that property tax levies do not impact fire district revenues so that fire districts in King County are able to continue to fully provide their vital services to our residents and businesses to protect life and property;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The office of performance, strategy and budget is hereby directed to work cooperatively with King County fire protection districts to ensure that King County property tax levies for county property taxes levied in 2013 through 2019 for collection in 2014 through 2020, do not by themselves negatively impact fire district tax revenues through levy prorationing. The office of performance, strategy and budget is hereby authorized to negotiate agreements, that shall be subject to approval by ordinance, with any King County fire district for payment from county general tax revenues of an amount equal to the amount by which any fire district's annual levy is prorated under RCW
84.52.010. The payments shall not be based on any pro-rationing caused by an increase in rates by taxing districts other than the county, or by a fire district itself.
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