Not an official copy.

Pullman, WA
Ordinance No. 00-21

AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION OF A PROPOSITION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF PULLMAN AT THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, FOR THEIR RATIFICATION OR REJECTION, PROVIDING FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE THE PERMANENT REGULAR PROPERTY TAX BY 30.56 CENTS PER THOUSAND OF ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE TO $3.60 PER $1000 OF ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE; SETTING FORTH THE BALLOT PROPOSITION; DIRECTING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO CERTIFY TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS ORDINANCE; AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS PROPERLY RELATING THERETO.

WHEREAS, the City of Pullman is an optional municipal code City, located in Whitman County, Washington, duly organized and existing pursuant to the laws of the state of Washington; and,

WHEREAS, the City is authorized to levy a permanent regular property tax not exceeding $3.60 per $1000 assessed value on the property within the City; and,

WHEREAS, Initiative 695 reduced revenues available to the City for the purpose of providing services to the citizens of the City in 2000 by in excess of $900,000 and proposed assistance from the State Legislature will provide only 51% of the General Fund shortfall; and,

WHEREAS, the voters of the City rejected Initiative 695; and

WHEREAS, the City has an unused portion of its permanent regular property tax authority; and

WHEREAS, the City Council desires to reduce the impact of a loss of revenues due to the passage of Initiative 695 by allowing the electors to vote to ratify or reject an increase in the regular permanent property tax on real property within the City; and,

WHEREAS, the proceeds of an increase in the regular property tax on real property will provide funding for the continuation of necessary services provided by the City to its citizens; NOW, THEREFORE,

The City Council of the City of Pullman do ordain as follows:

Section 1: A special election is hereby requested to be called, conducted and held within the City on Tuesday, November 7, 2000, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the City, for their ratification or rejection, a proposition to raise the permanent regular property tax on real property within the City to an amount of $3.60 per $1000 of assessed value on property in the City from and after January 1, 2001.

Section 2: That the proposition to be submitted to the electorate of the City shall read substantially as follows:

PROPERTY TAX LEVY PROPOSITION

In order to provide funds to hire three police and three fire positions and for other purposes deemed necessary by the City Council, shall the City of Pullman increase the permanent regular property tax by 30.56 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value on real property to the amount of $3.60 per thousand dollars assessed value on real property within the City from and after January 1, 2001?

Instructions to voters

To vote in favor of the foregoing proposition, mark a cross (x) in the "tax levy, yes" square. To vote against the foregoing proposition, mark a cross (x) in the "tax levy, no" square.

Tax levy, Yes _

Tax levy, No _

Section 3: The special election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2000. Polls will open at 7:00 a.m. and will remain open until 8:00 p.m., when they will close.

Section 4: The location of the polling places shall be determined by the Whitman County Auditor, as the ex officio Supervisor of Elections for the City.

Section 5: In the event the proposition specified in section 2 above is approved, there shall be levied and collected a permanent regular annual tax on real property in the City in the amount of $3.60 per $1000 assessed valuation in each year commencing January 1, 2001.

Section 6: The council hereby finds and declares an emergency exists, due to the need to replace revenues lost by the passage of Initiative 695. Said emergency requires the City to conduct a special election at the next election date, and requires the submission to qualified electors of City, for the ratification or rejection at said special election, the proposition as set forth above. The Finance Director or his designated representative is hereby authorized and directed to deliver a copy of this ordinance to Whitman County Auditor, as the City's ex officio Supervisor of Elections at least 45 days prior to the election date.

Section 7: The Whitman County Auditor, as the City ex officio supervisor of elections is hereby requested to also find the existence of such emergency and to deem the same to exist and call and conduct said special election on Tuesday, November 7, 2000, and submit to the qualified electors of the City the proposition set forth herein.

Section 8: Whitman County Auditor shall cause a notice of special election substantially in the form attached as exhibit "A" to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation within the City. Such publication shall take place not more than 10 days or less than three days prior to November 7, 2000.

Section 9: The Whitman County Auditor, as the City's ex officio Supervisor of Elections shall conduct the election, canvas the vote and certify the results in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 10: This ordinance shall be in full force and take effect five (5) days from and after its publication, or a summary thereof is published, in The Daily News the official newspaper of the city of Pullman.

PASSED by the City Council of the city of Pullman at a regular meeting held on the _____ day of _________________, 2000.

SIGNED by the Mayor in Authentication and Approval Thereof on the _____ day of ________________, 2000.

__________________________________

Mayor

ATTEST:

__________________________________

Finance Director

__________________________________

by: Deputy City Clerk

Approved as to Form:

___________________________

City Attorney

Summary published: ________________