Responses To Local Government Fiscal Distress PDF Download

"This thesis studies local government behavior or response in times of fiscal stress and pressure. In this particular case, fiscal stress is a situation whereby externally imposed tax cuts require strin-gent fiscal limitation on local government expenditure revenues. Local governments in Washington State have faced externally im-posed property tax cuts for the past eight years. The state legislature, in attempting to provide tax relief to property owners, passed an omnibus property tax relief bill in the 1971 Extraordinary Session. The property tax relief package included a tax levy limitation which restricted the amount levy revenue may be increased in any year. Local taxing districts were permitted no more than six percent increase per year plus assess-ments against new construction. The scope of my study involves a brief historical review of property tax cuts imposed on local government by state egislatures, courts, and state constitutions throughout the country. Factors that contribute to greater state control over local fiscal affairs using prop-erty tax limitation measure have been identified and analyzed utilizing available literature. An attempt has been made to show how local fiscal flexibility has been undermined by such measures. To demonstrate the effect and impact of tax limitation measures on local government, a case review has been conducted by analyzing the 106 percent legislative limitation. An appraisal of the aggregate impact on local government property tax revenues throughout the State of Washington has been conducted. Available literature and the City of Spokane has been used to demonstrate how local governments behave or respond under such spending limitations"--Document.