OLYMPIA – State legislators convened in special session this morning and began working to restore a cap on the size of property tax hikes levied by local governments.
Gov. Chris Gregoire called lawmakers back to reinstate the 1 percent limit on annual increases in property tax collections by cities, counties and special districts.
Voters created that limit by passing Initiative 747 in 2001. The state Supreme Court earlier this month ruled the initiative unconstitutional because its wording misled voters. That action erased the cap.
Gregoire wants to restore the tenets of the measure backed by voters. Republicans are pressing for stricter limits on local governments’ ability to increase property taxes.
Gregoire and Democratic legislative leaders are also pushing a second bill today that would allow owners of homes who earn less than the median income to defer paying a portion of their property tax.
Legislators planned to start at 8 a.m. today.
Committees in the Senate and the House of Representatives will hold separate hearings on the bills this morning.
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