77.12.203 - In lieu payments authorized -- Procedure -- Game lands defined. - Washington Statutes

In lieu payments authorized — Procedure — Game lands defined.

(1) Notwithstanding RCW 84.36.010 or other statutes to the contrary, the director shall pay by April 30th of each year on game lands in each county, if requested by an election under RCW 77.12.201, an amount in lieu of real property taxes equal to that amount paid on similar parcels of open space land taxable under chapter 84.34 RCW or the greater of seventy cents per acre per year or the amount paid in 1984 plus an additional amount for control of noxious weeds equal to that which would be paid if such lands were privately owned. This amount shall not be assessed or paid on department buildings, structures, facilities, game farms, fish hatcheries, tidelands, or public fishing areas of less than one hundred acres.

     (2) "Game lands," as used in this section and RCW 77.12.201, means those tracts one hundred acres or larger owned in fee by the department and used for wildlife habitat and public recreational purposes. All lands purchased for wildlife habitat, public access or recreation purposes with federal funds in the Snake River drainage basin shall be considered game lands regardless of acreage.

     (3) This section shall not apply to lands transferred after April 23, 1990, to the department from other state agencies.

     (4) The county shall distribute the amount received under this section in lieu of real property taxes to all property taxing districts except the state in appropriate tax code areas the same way it would distribute local property taxes from private property. The county shall distribute the amount received under this section for weed control to the appropriate weed district.

[2005 c 303 § 14; 1990 1st ex.s. c 15 § 11; 1984 c 214 § 2; 1980 c 78 § 37; 1965 ex.s. c 97 § 3.]

Notes: Effective date -- 2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW 79A.15.010.

Limitations -- 1990 1st ex.s. c 15: "Amounts saved by operation of section 11 of this act during the 1989-91 fiscal biennium may be used only for financing capital facilities." [1990 1st ex.s. c 15 § 12.]

Severability -- 1990 1st ex.s. c 15: See note following RCW 43.99H.010.

Effective date -- 1984 c 214: See note following RCW 77.12.201.

Effective date -- Intent, construction -- Savings -- Severability -- 1980 c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.