(1) The legislative authority of a county with a population of one million or more may impose a special stadium sales and use tax upon the retail sale or use within the county by restaurants, taverns, and bars of food and beverages that are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW. The rate of the tax shall not exceed five-tenths of one percent of the selling price in the case of a sales tax, or value of the article used in the case of a use tax. The tax authorized under this subsection is in addition to any other taxes authorized by law and shall not be credited against any other tax imposed upon the same taxable event. As used in this section, "restaurant" does not include grocery stores, mini-markets, or convenience stores.

     (2) The legislative authority of a county with a population of one million or more may impose a special stadium sales and use tax upon retail car rentals within the county that are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW. The rate of the tax shall not exceed two percent of the selling price in the case of a sales tax, or rental value of the vehicle in the case of a use tax. The tax imposed under this subsection is in addition to any other taxes authorized by law and shall not be credited against any other tax imposed upon the same taxable event.

     (3) The revenue from the taxes imposed under the authority of this section shall be used for the purpose of principal and interest payments on bonds, issued by the county, to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair, and operate a baseball stadium. Revenues from the taxes authorized in this section may be used for design and other preconstruction costs of the baseball stadium until bonds are issued for the baseball stadium. The county shall issue bonds, in an amount determined to be necessary by the public facilities district, for the district to acquire, construct, own, and equip the baseball stadium. The county shall have no obligation to issue bonds in an amount greater than that which would be supported by the tax revenues under this section, RCW 82.14.0485, and 36.38.010(4) (a) and (b). If the revenue from the taxes imposed under the authority of this section exceeds the amount needed for such principal and interest payments in any year, the excess shall be used solely:

     (a) For early retirement of the bonds issued for the baseball stadium; and

     (b) If the revenue from the taxes imposed under this section exceeds the amount needed for the purposes in (a) of this subsection in any year, the excess shall be placed in a contingency fund which may only be used to pay unanticipated capital costs on the baseball stadium, excluding any cost overruns on initial construction.

     (4) The proceeds of any bonds issued for the baseball stadium shall be provided to the district.

     (5) As used in this section, "baseball stadium" means "baseball stadium" as defined in RCW 82.14.0485.

     (6) The taxes imposed under this section shall expire when the bonds issued for the construction of the baseball stadium are retired, but not later than twenty years after the taxes are first collected.

[2008 c 86 § 104; 2000 c 103 § 10; 1995 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 201; 1995 1st sp.s. c 14 § 7.]

NOTES:

     Severability -- Savings -- Part headings not law -- 2008 c 86: See notes following RCW 82.14.030.

     Part headings not law -- Effective date -- 1995 3rd sp.s. c 1: See notes following RCW 82.14.0485.

     Severability -- Effective dates -- 1995 1st sp.s. c 14: See notes following RCW 36.100.010.