Chapter 3.05
SPECIAL REFERENDUM PROCEDURE FOR BUSINESS OR OCCUPATION TAX
Sections:
3.05.030 Election results declaration.
3.05.010 Applicability.
Every ordinance first imposing or increasing the rate of a business and occupation tax shall be subject to a special referendum procedure as provided in this chapter. (Ord. 791, 1987).
3.05.020 Filing – Procedure.
(1) A referendum petition proposing to repeal a tax ordinance referred to in OHMC 3.05.010 may be filed within seven days of passage of the ordinance imposing or increasing the rate of the tax. The petition shall be filed with the finance director signed by a registered voter or voters.
(2) Within 10 days of filing the finance director shall confer with the petitioner concerning form and style of the petition, issue the petition an identification number and secure an accurate, concise and positive title from the city attorney.
(3) The petitioner shall have 30 days in which to secure the signatures of not less than 15 percent of the registered voters of the city as of the last municipal general election upon petition form approved by the finance director containing the ballot title and the full text of the measure to be referred.
(4) Upon return, the finance director shall verify the sufficiency of the signature on the petition and, if sufficient valid signatures are properly submitted, shall certify the referendum measure to the next election ballot within the city or at a special election ballot as provided pursuant to RCW 35.17.260(2) as now in effect or hereafter amended. (Ord. 791, 1987).
3.05.030 Election results declaration.
Pending an election, the tax ordinance subject to the referendum shall remain in effect and the tax shall continue to be collected until the result of the election repealing the ordinance is declared or certified as provided by state law. (Ord. 791, 1987).
3.05.040 Signatures.
Every signer to a petition submitting a proposed ordinance for the referendum under this chapter shall add to the signature the signer’s place of residence, giving street and number. The signatures need not all be appended to one paper, but one of the signers on each paper must attach thereto an affidavit stating the number of signatures thereon, that each signature thereon is a genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be and that the statements therein made are true as such person believes. (Ord. 791, 1987).
3.05.052 Effective date.
The ordinance codified in this chapter shall take effect immediately and shall apply to any tax ordinances passed after October 1, 1987. (Ord. 791, 1987).