Property Tax Levy Lid Lift to Support Great Schools

WHEREAS an educated citizenry is essential to the continued prosperity and welfare of the City of Seattle; and

WHEREAS an urgent need exists to establish the long-term fiscal viability of the Seattle School System to accelerate student achievement for all of its diverse student populations;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE as follows:

Section 1. Legislative Findings

a. Providing City services, including the educational programs described in this initiative, is a City purpose.

b. An urgent need exists to continue the provision of City services, including the educational services funded with regular property taxes, and its urgency requires submission to the qualified electors of the City of Seattle of a measure authorizing regular property tax levies in excess of the limitations in RCW Chapter 84.55, as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, for up to six years, at a special election to be held in conjunction with a general election or primary.

Section 2. Definitions. As used in this measure, the following words when capitalized have the following meanings:

a. "City" means City of Seattle.

b. "People" means the people of the City of Seattle.

Section 3. Lift of Levy Lids for Regular Property Taxes-Authority

The People have vested the legislative powers of the City in a Mayor and City Council, but the People have reserved to themselves independent of the Mayor and the City Council the power to propose for themselves measures dealing with any matter within the realm of local affairs or municipal business. That power includes the use of an initiative petition to submit to the qualified electors of the City a measure as authorized by RCW 84.55.050 to exceed the limitations of regular property taxes contained in RCW Chapter 84.55, as it now exists or may hereinafter be amended.

Section 4. Lift of Levy Lids for Regular Property Taxes-Amount

The limitations on regular property taxes contained in Chapter 84.55 RCW, as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, for property taxes levied in 2007 though 2012, for collection in 2008 through 2013, respectively. For taxes levied in 2007 for collection in 2008 the tax rate shall be limited to $ 3.27 per $1,000 assessed value. For taxes levied in 2008 though 2012, that portion of the levy to be used for the purposes described herein may increase annually by the Consumer Price Index ("CPI")-U for Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton. Pursuant to RCW 84.55.050(4), the maximum regular property taxes that may be levied in 2013 for collection in 2014 and later years shall be computed as if the levy lid in RCW 84.55.010 had not been lifted under this initiative.

The limitations on regular property taxes shall be lifted only for the educational purposes set forth in the Great Schools Educational Funding Initiative enacted by the City or submitted to the voters contemporaneously with this measure.

Section 5. Election Ballot Title

The Ballot Title for this measure shall be as follows or as modified by the City Attorney pursuant to RCW 29A.36.070:

This measure approves for up to six (6) years, regular property taxes higher than the limits of Chapter 84.55 RCW for educational purposes only. For taxes levied in 2007, for collection in 2008, the regular levy rate shall be limited to $ 3.27 per $1,000 assessed value. Tax levies for 2008 through 2012 may increase annually by the Consumer Price Index ("CPI")-U for Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton. For taxes levied in 2013 and later years, the maximum tax levy shall be computed as if the levy lid had not been lifted by this measure.

Section 6. Severability

In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this ordinance shall for any reason be held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this ordinance or the levy of the taxes authorized herein but this ordinance and the authority to levy those taxes shall be construed and enforced as if such invalid provisions had not been contained herein; and any provision which shall for any reason be held by reason of its extent to be invalid shall be deemed to be in effect to the extent permitted by law.

Section 7. Effective Date

This measure shall be effective upon proclamation of the Mayor within five (5) days after the election at which it is approved by the People.