There is created in the state treasury a special account to be known as the "county sales and use tax equalization account." Into this account shall be placed a portion of all motor vehicle excise tax receipts as provided in *RCW 82.44.110. Funds in this account shall be allocated by the state treasurer according to the following procedure:

     (1) Prior to April 1st of each year the director of revenue shall inform the state treasurer of the total and the per capita levels of revenues for the unincorporated area of each county and the statewide weighted average per capita level of revenues for the unincorporated areas of all counties imposing the sales and use tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) for the previous calendar year.

     (2) At such times as distributions are made under *RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to each county imposing the sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.030(1) at the maximum rate and receiving less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars from the tax for the previous calendar year, an amount from the county sales and use tax equalization account sufficient, when added to the amount of revenues received the previous calendar year by the county, to equal one hundred fifty thousand dollars.

     The department of revenue shall establish a governmental price index as provided in this subsection. The base year for the index shall be the end of the third quarter of 1982. Prior to November 1, 1983, and prior to each November 1st thereafter, the department of revenue shall establish another index figure for the third quarter of that year. The department of revenue may use the implicit price deflators for state and local government purchases of goods and services calculated by the United States department of commerce to establish the governmental price index. Beginning on January 1, 1984, and each January 1st thereafter, the one hundred fifty thousand dollar base figure in this subsection shall be adjusted in direct proportion to the percentage change in the governmental price index from 1982 until the year before the adjustment. Distributions made under this subsection for 1984 and thereafter shall use this adjusted base amount figure.

     (3) Subsequent to the distributions under subsection (2) of this section and at such times as distributions are made under *RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to each county imposing the sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.030(1) at the maximum rate and receiving less than seventy percent of the statewide weighted average per capita level of revenues for the unincorporated areas of all counties as determined by the department of revenue under subsection (1) of this section, an amount from the county sales and use tax equalization account sufficient, when added to the per capita level of revenues for the unincorporated area received the previous calendar year by the county, to equal seventy percent of the statewide weighted average per capita level of revenues for the unincorporated areas of all counties determined under subsection (1) of this section, subject to reduction under subsections (6) and (7) of this section. When computing distributions under this section, any distribution under subsection (2) of this section shall be considered revenues received from the tax imposed under RCW 82.14.030(1) for the previous calendar year.

     (4) Subsequent to the distributions under subsection (3) of this section and at such times as distributions are made under *RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to each county imposing the sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.030(2) at the maximum rate and receiving a distribution under subsection (2) of this section, a third distribution from the county sales and use tax equalization account. The distribution to each qualifying county shall be equal to the distribution to the county under subsection (2) of this section, subject to the reduction under subsections (6) and (7) of this section. To qualify for the total distribution under this subsection, the county must impose the tax under RCW 82.14.030(2) for the entire calendar year. Counties imposing the tax for less than the full year shall qualify for prorated allocations under this subsection proportionate to the number of months of the year during which the tax is imposed.

     (5) Subsequent to the distributions under subsection (4) of this section and at such times as distributions are made under *RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to each county imposing the sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.030(2) at the maximum rate and receiving a distribution under subsection (3) of this section, a fourth distribution from the county sales and use tax equalization account. The distribution to each qualifying county shall be equal to the distribution to the county under subsection (3) of this section, subject to the reduction under subsections (6) and (7) of this section. To qualify for the distributions under this subsection, the county must impose the tax under RCW 82.14.030(2) for the entire calendar year. Counties imposing the tax for less than the full year shall qualify for prorated allocations under this subsection proportionate to the number of months of the year during which the tax is imposed.

     (6) Revenues distributed under subsections (2) through (5) of this section in any calendar year shall not exceed an amount equal to seventy percent of the statewide weighted average per capita level of revenues for the unincorporated areas of all counties during the previous calendar year. If distributions under subsections (3) through (5) of this section cannot be made because of this limitation, then distributions under subsections (3) through (5) of this section shall be reduced ratably among the qualifying counties.

     (7) If inadequate revenues exist in the county sales and use tax equalization account to make the distributions under subsections (3) through (5) of this section, then the distributions under subsections (3) through (5) of this section shall be reduced ratably among the qualifying counties. At such time during the year as additional funds accrue to the county sales and use tax equalization account, additional distributions shall be made under subsections (3) through (5) of this section to the counties.

     (8) If the level of revenues in the county sales and use tax equalization account exceeds the amount necessary to make the distributions under subsections (2) through (5) of this section, at such times as distributions are made under *RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion an amount to the county public health account created in RCW 70.05.125 equal to the adjustment under RCW 70.05.125(2)(b).

     (9) If the level of revenues in the county sales and use tax equalization account exceeds the amount necessary to make the distributions under subsections (2) through (5) and (8) of this section, then the additional revenues shall be credited and transferred as follows:

     (a) Fifty percent to the public facilities construction loan revolving account under RCW 43.160.080; and

     (b) Fifty percent to the distressed county public facilities construction loan account under **RCW 43.160.220, or so much thereof as will not cause the balance in the account to exceed twenty-five million dollars. Any remaining funds shall be deposited into the public facilities construction loan revolving account.

     (10) During the 2003-2005 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the county sales and use tax equalization account to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the account.

[2003 1st sp.s. c 25 § 941; 1998 c 321 § 8 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November 3, 1998); 1997 c 333 § 2; 1991 sp.s. c 13 § 15; 1990 c 42 § 313; 1985 c 57 § 82; 1984 c 225 § 5; 1983 c 99 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 49 § 21.]

NOTES:

     Reviser's note: *(1) RCW 82.44.110 and 82.44.150 were repealed by 2003 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002).

     **(2) RCW 43.160.220 was repealed by 2008 c 327 § 17, effective July 1, 2009.

     Severability -- Effective date -- 2003 1st sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 19.28.351.

     Purpose -- Severability -- 1998 c 321: See notes following RCW 82.14.045.

     Effective dates -- Application -- 1998 c 321 §§ 1-21, 44, and 45: See note following RCW 82.14.045.

     Referral to electorate -- 1998 c 321 §§ 1-21 and 44-46: See note following RCW 82.14.045.

     Effective date -- 1997 c 333: See note following RCW 70.05.125.

     Effective dates -- Severability -- 1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following RCW 18.08.240.

     Purpose -- Headings -- Severability -- Effective dates -- Application -- Implementation -- 1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.

     Effective date -- 1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.

     Rules -- 1984 c 225: See note following RCW 82.14.210.

     Severability -- 1983 c 99: "If any provision of this act or chapter 49, Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess. or their application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of these acts or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1983 c 99 § 10.]

     Intent -- Construction -- Effective date -- Fire district funding -- 1982 1st ex.s. c 49: See notes following RCW 35.21.710.