HomeMy WebLinkAboutord1995-056HIM TCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGEJVDA RILL
NO. 1995 -412
- C
Initial
Date
Date Received in Council Office
Agenda Datc
Aasigncd TO:
Ntmuor ceum Courvil
10/10/95
10/17/95
Council - Introduction
liaact
10/31/95
Public Hearing
Fort for
06
,Dlll/yi
Putrchasing,+BBudget:
Executiae:
SUBJECT.
Ordinance eliminating the Conservation Futures property tax
ATTACHMENTS.
Proposed Ordinance
SUMMARY STATEMENT.- Please corm lete sections of box as appropriate & explain the item below.
Zelated County Contract #: N/A Should clerk schedule a hearing? (Y /N) Y Requested Date: 10/31/95
This ordinance -would eliminate the Conservation Futures property tax as of the end of 1995. In addition, the Conservation
Futures Fund would be eliminated, as was directed by prior Council motion. Any money left in the Conservation Futures
Fund will:be retained in a restriced account within the Current Expense Fund, and can only be spent for those items that are
allowed under the Conservation Futures section of county and state laws.
CLERK'S RECOMMENDED MOTION (for final action):
I move to.approve the ordinance.
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN:
10/17/95: Introduced
10/31/95: Adopted as amended-4-3
Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item only):
Ord. 95 -056
tuturmwo 10/05/95
SPONSORED BY: NELSON
PROPOSED BY: NE=N
INTRODUCTION DATE: 10/17/95
1 ORDINANCE NO.g5-n5fi
2 REPEALING THE CONSERVATION FLMJRES TAX
3 WHEREAS, in 1992 the Whatcom County Council did impose a tax upon
4 property to be used for purchasing of conservation lands in the County, said
5 WHEREAS, since that time the people have made known their feelings that
6 property taxation has rescued a level that they no danger support; and
7 WHEREAS, there still exists a need to provide additional levels of revenue to the
S Current Ela eme lid in order to maintain basic sen ices; and
9 WHEREAS, by eliminaft the existing Conservation Futures Tax an offset can
10 be m. ade against im a d
Current F. property tax. i resulting in as net
11 reduction In property taxes;
12 NOW, THEREF01M BE fT OIR:DAMED by the 1Whatcam County Council that
13 Chapter 325 of the Whatcom. County Code is a nded as follows:
14 tempter 325
1S CONSERVATION FUTURES PROPERTY TAX LEVY AND FUND
16 Sections:
17 325.010 Tax hnposed.
18 3.23.020 Fund established.
19 325.030 Use of prr coeds.
20 325.010 Tax im-po"
21 Pursuant to RCW 84.34MOt there is hereby imposed a real property tax levy to be
22 applied against all taxable real property within Whatcom County. The lea►y shall be
23 lied at a rate of six and on uaarter cents r lil,0l)U of assessed vaivatir�n. , . ,
24
25 3.25.020 Fund ostaablished.
26 A, special revenue fund shaU be established, as provided for in RCW 84.34,240, which
27 shall be known as the conservation futures fund and to which shall be credited a U toes
28 levied pursuant to this chapter. The executive office shall act as manager of the fund.
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3.25.030 Use of proceeds.
The amounts placed in the conservation futures fund shall be used solely to acquire
rights and interests in open space land, farm and agricultural land, and timber land, as
such are defined in RCW Chapter 84.34, so as to protect, preserve, maintain., improve,
restore, limit the future use of or otherwise conserve the property for public use or
enjoyment. No revenue generated by this tax shall be used for the acquisition of any real
property or interest in read property through the use of eminent domain.
ADOPTED this -ii_ day of nersah,. r , 1995.
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10 ATIT.ST:
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Dan Bwwn -l.3svis, CYcrk -of ft Council
APPROVED AS TO FORM
0411i4i;� - L -1, �""'
501 Deputy Pnxector
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHA 1 COO COUNTY, WASHINGTON
A,.
R6 *0 A. Imhof, Caaundl O.
j .Approved ( -Y&Med
S.#tidey Vua 1cn. F-.,. tW.,
Date: tt- ►s-2�
Page 2
Whatcom County Executive Office
311 Grand Avcnue
BC11ingham, WA 98225
360/67& -6717; FAX 676 -6775
Y
Shirley Van Zanten
County Executive
MEMO TO: Whatcom County Council
FROM: Shirley Van Zanten 4TJ., d.." W . V E I V E ID
County Executive
DATE: November 13, 1995
SUBJECT: Veto of Ordinance 95 -056
W'HATC'OM COUNTY
COUNCIL
I am returning Ordinance 95 -056, an ordinance eliminating the Conservation Futures
Property Tax, to you with a veto.
I believe the passing of this ordinance is a precipitous and premature action. It has not
given credence to the decisions of farmer councils nor allowed for the public to be fully and
adequately involved in the review.
The Conservation Futures levy was instituted as part of a long range plan to provide for
the conservation needs of this county into the next century. This plan, the Natural Heritage
Plan, was <developed by a citizen task force. These citizens represented a broad spectrum
of Whatcom County politically, economically and geogn- nhically. This citizen group went
through an extensive public process. Tt!A Plan presented was endorsed by the County
Council after this thorough needs assessment, months of public dialogue and with
participation and support from a broad spectrum of the community.
I cannot concur with the Council now precipitously suspending the levy without examining
needs, developing an alternative plan or attempting, in some meaningful way, to assess
public opinion. I believe the current plan should remain in effect until the Council takes
the time to do its homework, exposes its ideas to public scrutiny and engages in a true
public process.
As a result, I have vetoed Ordinance 95 -056.
SVZ:db
cc: SVZ