Ordinance 03-017 Imposes Excise Tax on Real Estate Sales CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY
SPOKANE COUNTY, WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO. 17
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY, SPOKANE COUNTY,
WASHINGTON, IMPOSING A ONE-QUARTER PERCENT EXCISE TAX ON REAL
ESTATE SALES, IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF THE TAX, PROVIDING
FOR COLLECTION AND REFUNDS,A:ND ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL FUND
WHEREAS, state law authorizes the imposition of certain taxes upon real estate
transactions occurring within the City of Spokane Valley; and
WHEREAS, to the extent collected, this tax does not result in an increase in the amount
of tax paid by sellers of real property but diverts money from Spokane County to the City of
Spokane Valley; and
WHEREAS, the City, upon incorporation, has responsibilities to finance necessary
capital improvements and it is therefore appropriate to impose the excise tax authorized by law
to help finance these improvements.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Spokane Valley, Spokane County,
Washington, do ordain as follows:
Section 1. One-quarter Percent Excise Tax on Real Estate Sales.
A. Imposition. Pursuant to RCW 82.46.010, there is imposed
an excise tax on each sale of real property constituting a taxable event as defined in Chapter
82.45 RCW, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended. The tax imposed under this
section shall be collected from persons who are taxable by the State under Chapter 82.45 RCW,
as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, and such tax shall comply with all
applicable rules, regulations, laws and court decisions regarding real estate excise taxes as
imposed by the State under RCW Chapters 82.45 and 82.46, as the same now exists or may
hereafter be amended.
13. Tax rate. The rate of tax imposed by this section pursuant
to RCW 82.46.010, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, shall be one-quarter of
one percent of the selling price of all real property upon which this tax is imposed.
C. Use of proceeds. All proceeds from the tax imposed by this
section shall be placed by the City Treasurer, or authorized designee, in the City's Capital
Project Fund, with expenditures therefrom restricted solely to those uses permitted by state law,
namely, for any capital purpose identified in a capital improvements plan and local capital
improvements including those listed in RCW 35.43.040.
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Section 2. County to Collect Payment.
The County Treasurer shall collect the tax imposed by this ordinance. The
County Treasurer shall place one percent of the proceeds of the taxes imposed and collected by
this ordinance in the County Current Expense Fund to defray costs of collection. The remaining
proceeds from City taxes imposed by this ordinance shall be distributed to the City monthly.
Section 3. Tax is Obligation of Seller.
The taxes imposed by this ordinance are the obligation of the seller and
may be enforced through the action of debt against the seller or in the manner prescribed for the
foreclosure of mortgages.
Section 4. Tax Lien on Real Property.
The taxes imposed by this ordinance and any interest or penalties thereon
is a specific lien upon each piece of real property sold from the time of sale or until the tax is
paid, which lien may be enforced in the manner prescribed for the foreclosure of mortgages.
Resort to one course of enforcement is not an election of remedies or a waiver of legal rights.
Section 5. Duties of County Treasurer.
The taxes imposed by this ordinance shall be paid to and collected by the
County Treasurer. The County Treasurer shall cause a stamp evidencing satisfaction of the lien
to be affixed to the instrument of sale or conveyance prior to its recording or to the real estate
excise tax affidavit in the case of used mobile home sales. A receipt issued by the County
Treasurer for the payment of the tax imposed herein shall be evidence of the satisfaction of the
lien imposed by this ordinance and may be recorded in the manner prescribed for recording
satisfactions of mortgages. No instrument of sale or conveyance evidencing a sale subject to the
tax may be accepted by the Spokane County Auditor's office for filing or recording until the tax
is paid and the stamp affixed thereto. In case the tax is not due on the transfer, the instrument
shall not be accepted until suitable notation of this fact is made on the instrument by the County
Treasurer.
Section 6. Payment Due.
The tax imposed by this ordinance shall become due and payable
immediately at the time of the sale, and if not so paid within 30 days thereafter, shall bear
interest at the maximum rate permitted by law from the time of sale until the date of payment.
Section 7. Refunds.
If, upon written application by taxpayer to the County Treasurer for a
refund, it appears that tax has been paid in excess of the amount actually due or upon a sale or
other transfer declared to be exempt, such excess amount or improper payment shall be refunded
by the County Treasurer to the taxpayer; provided, that no refund shall be made unless the State
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has first authorized the refund of an excessive amount or an improper amount paid, unless such
improper amount was paid as a result of miscalculation. Any refund made shall be withheld
from the next monthly distribution to the City of Spokane Valley.
Section 8. Creation of Capital Projects Fund.
There is created a special City fund to be known as the "Capital Projects
Fund," into which shall be deposited all proceeds of the tax imposed by Section 1 of this
Ordinance. Revenue in the Capital Projects Fund shall be used to finance capital projects
specified in the capital facilities plan element of the City Comprehensive Plan.
Section 9. Penalty.
it is unlawful for any person to fail or refuse to pay taxes with intent to
violate the provisions of this ordinance. Any person violating any provision of this ordinance
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, punished pursuant to state law or
city ordinance.
Section 10. Severability.
If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance should be held
to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or unconstitutionality of any other section,
sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance.
Section 11. Effective Date.
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect on the official date of
incorporation provided publication of this Ordinance or a summary thereof occurs in the official
newspaper of the City as provided by law.
Passed By the City Council of the City of Spokas- Valle ' on January 7, 2003.
Mayor, Mic lad DeVlemi
ATTEST:
- :d
Interim City Clerk, Ruth Muller
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Approved As To Form:
In ring ity Att• tanley M. Ichwartz
Date of Publication: /t94 28' zoos
Effective Date:
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