House panel hears eight-part bill to expand local revenue tools for housing, utilities and services

The Washington House Finance Committee on Jan. 20 heard HB 24-42, an eight-part measure that would give cities and counties new or expanded local taxing authority and greater flexibility in how certain local revenues are used. The bill’s sponsor and staff described it as a package of options for communities facing rising costs for housing, public safety, infrastructure and social services.

Tracy Taylor, staff to the committee, summarized the bill’s parts: Part 1 would expand uses for local real estate excise tax revenue to include nuisance-property abatement; Part 2 would allow cities to propose a 0.5% local REET (real estate excise tax) for affordable housing subject to voter approval; Part 3 would authorize counties to levy a local public utility tax (PUT) up to 3% on utility service in unincorporated areas, with 0.2% required for low-income assistance; Part 4 would permit a new 0.01% local sales-and-use tax for services to children and families; Part 5 would broaden allowable uses for existing housing sales taxes to include…