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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 Wireless Excise Tax Page 1 of 3 H:\Forms\CIVILS\M-R\Ordinances\WE Tax.doc 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. Wireless Excise Tax Page 2 of 3 H;\Forma\CIVILS\M.R\Ordinancw\WH Tax.doc 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 Wireless Excise Tax Page 3 of 3 H:\Forms\CIVIL8\M-R\Ordinances\WE Tax.doc