Drafter
Clerk 12/22/2006
Title
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the levy and collection of an additional sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for the operation, maintenance and capital needs of the King County Metro public transportation system with collections to begin on April 1, 2007; amending Ordinance 15582, Section 4, and K.C.C. 4.29.020, adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 4.29 and declaring an emergency.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. The county council adopted Ordinance 15582 to submit to the voters a proposition authorizing an additional sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for the operation, maintenance and capital needs of the King County Metro public transportation system.
B. The results of the November 7, 2006, election in which the voters of King County authorized the additional sales and use tax were certified on November 28, 2006.
C. Legislation to authorize collection of the additional one-tenth of one percent sales and use tax beginning on April 1, 2007, was transmitted by the executive on December 19, 2006.
D. State law provides that changes to the local sales and use tax may be made only on the first day of January, April, July or October and requires that the Washington state Department of Revenue be notified at least seventy five days before the effective date of a change.
E. In order for the additional sales and use tax to be collected beginning April 1, 2007, King County must notify the Department of Revenue of the change by January 15, 2007.
F. The county council's meeting schedule following the December 19 transmittal by the executive did not allow for the introduction and consideration of the proposed legislation until January 8, 2007.
G. The executive estimates that delaying collection of the additional tax until July 1 would result in the loss of twelve million dollars, which would otherwise be used to provide public transportation improvements ...

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