HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 02-143-CCGRANT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Grant County, Washington
ORDINANCE NO, 02-143- CC
RESOLUTION NO 02 -143-CC
AN ORDINANCE INCREASING THE EXISTING WIRELESS
EXCISE TAX FROM $.25 TO $.50 CENTS PER MONTH ON
EACH RADIO ACCESS LINE, AND OTHER MATTERS
PROPERLY RELATING THERETO.
WHEREAS, the Legislature has found that statewide enhanced 911 has proven to be a
lifesaving service and that routing a 911 call to the appropriate public safety answering point
with a display of the caller's identification and location should be available for all users of
telecommunications services, regardless of the technology used to make and transmit the 911
call; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature has found that it is in the best interest of the public health,
safety and welfare to ensure that there is adequate ongoing funding to support enhanced 911
services; and
WHEREAS, the enhanced 911 system in Grant County is currently funded with revenue
from State and local excise taxes imposed on the use of switched access lines and radio access
lines, including without limitation, cellular communications systems and other similar wireless
telecommunications systems, as defined in RCW 82.14B.020; and
WHEREAS, the volume of 911 calls by users of cellular communications systems and
other similar wireless telecommunications systems has rapidly increased in recent years due to
the marked increase in use of said equipment by the general population; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature has provided in HB 2595, Chapter 341, Session Laws of
2002, for the amendment of existing legislation, which allows counties to increase the wireless
excise tax to the same rate as switched access lines, from $.25 to $.50 per month, to provide a
uniform level of taxation and, ensure adequate funding for counties to implement and improve
wireless enhanced 911 service; and
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WHEREAS, the Legislature has provided in HB 2595, Chapter 341, Session Laws of
2002, amending existing legislation, that funds generated by the enhanced 911 excise tax
imposed by RCW 82.14B.030(4) shall not be distributed to any county that has not imposed the
maximum county enhanced 911 tax allowed under RCW 82.14B.030(2); and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners finds that the loss of funds generated
by the enhanced 911 excise tax imposed by RCW 82 14B.030(4) would be catastrophic to Grant
County's enhanced 911 system; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners finds that the public interest and,
health safety and welfare, requires the imposition and collection of an increased tax on radio
access lines as defined in chapter 82.14B RCW, at the same rate as switched access lines,
including without limitation, cellular communications systems and other similar wireless
telecommunications systems, in order to adequately fund Grant County's enhanced 911 system,
including without limitation, wireless enhanced 911.
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of County Commissioners of Grant County,
Ordinance/Resolution No. 94 -90 -CC, is hereby amended as follows:
Section 1. Tax Rate: The wireless excise tax previously imposed by Grant County
Ordinance/Resolution No. 94 -90 -CC, shall be increased from $.25 to $.50 per month on each and
every radio access line, including without limitation, cellular communications systems and other
similar wireless telecommunications systems, within the County of Grant, State of Washington,
provided by a radio communications service company as defined in RCW 82.14B.020, whose
place of primary use is located within the County of Grant, State of Washington, to assist in
financing Grant County's enhanced 911 telephone system as defined in chapter 82.14B RCW,
for emergency services communications systems.
Section 2. Tax Notice: The Grant County Administrative Services Coordinator or
designee, is directed to provide notice of the tax increase imposed in Section 1 to each radio
communications service company providing radio access lines in Grant County, at least sixty
(60) days prior to the effective date of this ordinance/resolution.
Section 3. Repealer: Sections of Grant County Ordinance/Resolution No. 94 -90 -CC or,
other previous Grant County ordinances/resolutions, which are inconsistent with this
ordinance/resolution, are hereby repealed to the extent that they are inconsistent.
Section 4. Effective Date: The tax increase imposed by Section I herein shall be
effective January 1, 2003, at 12:01 am.
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NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT THE GRANT
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS adopt this ordinance
PASSED AND ADOPTED this�q lay of September, 2002.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
GRANT COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Ayes Nayes
Tim Snea , Ch r
El
LeRoy C. Alison, ember
❑ Deborah Kay Moore, Member
ATTEST:
Q
Clerk of; oard
PUBLISHED: 09/13/02; 09/20/02
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