HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 5582CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO. 5582
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, AMENDING SECTION
5-11-1, UTILITY TAX, OF CHAPTER 11, UTILITY TAX, OF TITLE V (FINANCE AND
BUSINESS REGULATIONS) OF ORDINANCE NO. 4260 ENTITLED "CODE OF
GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON", TO AMEND
THE UTILITY TAX RATE IMPOSED ON WATER UTILITY ENTERPRISES.
WHEREAS, the City's Water Utility maintains and operates fire hydrant services, which
are used by the City's Fire Department to provide local fire protection service; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Washington State Supreme Court decision Lane v. City of
Seattle, 164 Wn.2d 875, 194 P.3d 977 (2008), the City's Water Utility Enterprise Fund must
begin charging the City's General Fund for the costs of providing fire hydrant services; and
WHEREAS, imposing an additional tax of one and one-half percent (1.5%) on the gross
receipts of the Water Utility Enterprise Fund will raise approximately the amount of revenue
needed to pay for the projected costs of providing fire hydrant services to the City; and
WHEREAS, this state law allows a city council to raise taxes on city-operated utilities to
carry out city business;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DOES
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. Subsection 5-11-1G, Water and Sewer Utilities Tax, of Chapter 11, Utility
Tax, of Title V (Finance and Business Regulations) of Ordinance No. 4260 entitled "Code of
General Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington", is hereby amended to change the title
to "Sewer Utilities Tax", and as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 5582
G. Wator and Sewer Utilities Tax: Upon any business enterprise engaging in
or carrying on the business of selling, furnishing, or distributing wator, sanitary
sewer7 or storm sewer services for commercial or domestic use or purpose
within the Renton City limits, a tax equal to six percent (6%) of the total gross
income from such business in the City shall be charged effective as of January 1,
1991.
SECTION II. Section 5-11-1, Utility Tax, of Chapter 11, Utility Tax, of Title V (Finance
and Business Regulations) of Ordinance No. 4260 entitled "Code of General Ordinances of the
City of Renton, Washington", is hereby amended to add a new subsection J, to be entitled
"Water Utilities Tax", and to read as follows:
J. Water Utilities Tax: Upon the Water Utility Enterprise Fund engaging in
or carrying on the business of selling, furnishing, or distributing water services
for commercial or domestic use or purpose within the Renton City limits, a tax
equal to seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of the total gross income from such
business in the City shall be charged.
SECTION III. This ordinance is subject to referendum under RMC Section 1-2-2.
SECTION IV. This ordinance shall be effective on January 1, 2011.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 2.2nd day of ^ , 2010.
Bonnie I. Walton, City Clerk
ORDINANCE NO. 5582
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 22nd day of November , 2010.
Denis Law, Mayor
Approved as to form:
Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney
Date of Publication: 11/26/2010 (summary)
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