This bill amends the definition of "rural county" for public facilities funding in Washington State by updating the criteria used to classify counties. The new definition specifies that a "rural county" can be any county with a population density of fewer than 100 persons per square mile, a county with a population density of 100 persons per square mile or greater that does not have a city with a population exceeding 45,000, or a county that is smaller than 225 square miles. The previous definition, which was based on different population density thresholds and did not include the new criteria, has been deleted.

Additionally, the bill modifies the provisions related to the imposition of sales and use taxes by rural counties. It allows these counties to impose a tax to finance public facilities that serve economic development purposes, affordable workforce housing, and economic development personnel. The bill also mandates that counties report on the use of tax proceeds and ensures that the funds are utilized in alignment with the goals of job creation and retention. The state auditor is tasked with providing a publicly accessible report on the expenditures and revenue collected under this section by the end of 2024.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 82.14.370
Substitute bill: 82.14.370
Bill as passed Legislature: 82.14.370
Session law: 82.14.370