Drafter
Clerk 11/19/2009
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AN ORDINANCE creating the King County historical preservation and historical programs fund; amending Ordinance 12076, Section 9, as amended, and K.C.C. 4.08.015 and adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 4.08.
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PREAMBLE:
In 2005, the state legislature passed House Bill 1386, which became Chapter 442, Laws of Washington 2005, and which increased the document recording surcharge under RCW 36.22.170 and specified that one dollar of the surcharge was to be used at the discretion of the county commissioners "to promote historical preservation or historical programs, which may include preservation of historic documents."
In a 2008 audit requested by the council, the county auditor determined that King County properly accounted for revenues generated from the increased recording surcharge and used the discretionary portion of the surcharge revenues for authorized purposes.
However, the auditor noted the county had not designated the historic preservation surcharge account in the general fund as a restricted account, making it difficult to track the use of the surcharge revenues.
The audit also recommended that the council consider adopting legislation or directing the executive to develop policies and procedures for defining historic preservation and relevant uses of the surcharge revenue to promote accountability and transparency for interested community groups and the general public.
In 2009, in Ordinance 16579 the council created the historic preservation and historical programs advisory task force to explore how to use the surcharge. The task force was required to make interim recommendations by November 1, 2009, and submit a final report by March 1, 2010. In its interim recommendation submitted on October 30, 2009, the task force recommended that the surcharge revenue be allocated between 4Culture heritage and preservation programs and the King County historic preservation program "with an intention to maintain the ...

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