School levies

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1
STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:2
THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the 3
secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state 4
for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to 5
Article VII, section 2 of the Constitution of the state of Washington 6
to read as follows: 7
Article VII, section 2. Except as hereinafter provided and 8
notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the 9
aggregate of all tax levies upon real and personal property by the 10
state and all taxing districts now existing or hereafter created, 11
shall not in any year exceed one percent of the true and fair value 12
of such property in money. Nothing herein shall prevent levies at the 13
rates now provided by law by or for any port or public utility 14
district. The term "taxing district" for the purposes of this section 15
shall mean any political subdivision, municipal corporation, 16
district, or other governmental agency authorized by law to levy, or 17
have levied for it, ad valorem taxes on property, other than a port 18
or public utility district. Such aggregate limitation or any specific 19
limitation imposed by law in conformity therewith may be exceeded 20
only as follows: 21
H-1240.1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 4205
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Dufault, Corry, Mendoza, and Manjarrez
Read first time 02/25/25. Referred to Committee on Finance.
p. 1 HJR 4205
(a) By any taxing district when specifically authorized so to do 1
by a majority of at least three-fifths of the voters of the taxing 2
district voting on the proposition to levy such additional tax 3
submitted not more than twelve months prior to the date on which the 4
proposed initial levy is to be made and not oftener than twice in 5
such twelve month period, either at a special election or at the 6
regular election of such taxing district, at which election the 7
number of voters voting "yes" on the proposition shall constitute 8
three-fifths of a number equal to forty percent of the total number 9
of voters voting in such taxing district at the last preceding 10
general election when the number of voters voting on the proposition 11
does not exceed forty percent of the total number of voters voting in 12
such taxing district in the last preceding general election; or by a 13
majority of at least three-fifths of the voters of the taxing 14
district voting on the proposition to levy when the number of voters 15
voting on the proposition exceeds forty percent of the number of 16
voters voting in such taxing district in the last preceding general 17
election. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, 18
any proposition pursuant to this subsection to levy additional tax 19
for ((the support of the common schools or )) fire protection 20
districts may provide such support for a period of up to four years 21
and any proposition to levy an additional tax to support the 22
construction, modernization, or remodelling of ((school facilities 23
or)) fire facilities may provide such support for a period not 24
exceeding six years ((. Notwithstanding any other provision of this 25
subsection, a proposition under this subsection to levy an additional 26
tax for a school district shall be authorized by a majority of the 27
voters voting on the proposition, regardless of the number of voters 28
voting on the proposition)); 29
(b) By any taxing district otherwise authorized by law to issue 30
general obligation bonds for capital purposes, for the sole purpose 31
of making the required payments of principal and interest on general 32
obligation bonds issued solely for capital purposes, other than the 33
replacement of equipment, when authorized so to do by majority of at 34
least three-fifths of the voters of the taxing district voting on the 35
proposition to issue such bonds and to pay the principal and interest 36
thereon by annual tax levies in excess of the limitation herein 37
provided during the term of such bonds, submitted not oftener than 38
twice in any calendar year, at an election held in the manner 39
provided by law for bond elections in such taxing district, at which 40
p. 2 HJR 4205
election the total number of voters voting on the proposition shall 1
constitute not less than forty percent of the total number of voters 2
voting in such taxing district at the last preceding general 3
election. Any such taxing district shall have the right by vote of 4
its governing body to refund any general obligation bonds of said 5
district issued for capital purposes only, and to provide for the 6
interest thereon and amortization thereof by annual levies in excess 7
of the tax limitation provided for herein. The provisions of this 8
section shall also be subject to the limitations contained in Article 9
VIII, Section 6, of this Constitution; 10
(c) By the state or any taxing district for the purpose of 11
preventing the impairment of the obligation of a contract when 12
ordered so to do by a court of last resort. 13
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause 14
notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four 15
times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every 16
legal newspaper in the state. 17
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p. 3 HJR 4205