Information

Type: Legal Notice

Department: PHSS - Public Health & Social Services

Directors' Update: Jan. 8, 2020

Business Meeting: Jan. 13, 2020

Summary:

Notice of hearing for ordinance 1316 authorizing a sales and use tax for affordable and supportive housing in accordance with Substitute House Bill 1406 (Chapter 338, Laws of 2019) and other matters related.

Publications: The Chronicle January 14, 2020 and January 21, 2020

Cover Letter To:

Additional Copies To: JP Anderson, Ed Mund, Sandi Andrus, the Auditor's Office, the Assessor's Office, and the Treasurer's Office

Resolution

WHEREAS, in the 2019 Regular Session, the Washington State Legislature approved, and the Governor signed, Substitute House Bill 1406 (Chapter 338, Laws of 2019) (“SHB 1406”); and

WHEREAS, SHB 1406 authorizes the governing body of a city or county to impose a local sales and use tax for the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing or facilities providing supportive housing, and for the operations and maintenance costs of affordable or supportive housing, and, if eligible, for providing rental assistance to tenants; and

WHEREAS, Lewis County has determined that imposing the sales and use tax to address this need will benefit its citizens; and

WHEREAS, this tax is not a new tax, rather the tax will be deducted from the amount of tax otherwise required to be collected or paid to the Department of Revenue under Chapters 82.08 or 82.12 RCW and will represent an additional source of funding to address housing needs in Lewis County; and

WHEREAS, the tax must be used to assist persons whose income is at or below sixty percent of Lewis County's median income; and

WHEREAS, in order for Lewis County to impose the tax, the County first adopted Resolution No. 19-312 declaring the County's intent to levy a portion of the State's sales tax within six months of the effective date of the SHB 1406; and

WHEREAS, within twelve months of the effective date of SHB 1406, the governing body must adopt legislation authorizing the maximum capacity of the tax; and

WHEREAS, Lewis County currently levies a "qualifying local tax"; and

WHEREAS, the Lewis County Board of Commissioners now desires to adopt legislation imposing a local sales and use tax as authorized by SHB 1406 as set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Lewis County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance 1316 on January 27, 2020, at or after 10:00 am at the Lewis County Courthouse, Commissioners’ Hearing Room, 351 NW North Street, Chehalis, WA as set forth in the Notice of Public Hearing Exhibit A hereto.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 13th day of January, 2020.