ORD 24-015ORDINANCE NO. 24-015
AN ORDINANCE amending Chapter 3.10-Utility Tax ofthe
Camas Municipal Code to include a mandatory tax rate review
provision and a tax year commencement date of January 1, 2025;
and readopting and replacing Chapter 3.10, as herein amended, to
be effective January 1, 2025 upon the sunsetting of Ordinance 22-
024 as heretofore adopted.
WHEREAS, the City of Camas has authority as a municipal corporation of the State of
Washington to impose a utility business and occupation tax pursuant to RCW 35A.82.020; and
WHEREAS, state law prescribes no limit to the maximum utility tax rate which may be
imposed upon water, sewer, solid waste and stormwater utilities; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 3.10-Utility Tax of the Camas Municipal Code provides for a 2% utility
tax which is levied upon water, sewer, solid waste, and stormwater utilities; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 3.10-Utility Tax of the Camas Municipal Code further sets forth a
procedure allowing for the waiver or decrease in such utility tax to be provided for low-income
families; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 22-024, which adopted Chapter 3 .10 and provided for the first time a
utility tax in the City of Camas, is scheduled to sunset and no longer be in force and effect as of
11 :59 pm on December 31, 2024 as set forth in Section VI therein; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Camas, after considering during the 2024 biennial
budget review cycle all relevant evidence and testimony, has determined that there is a substantial
need of City revenue sources to ensure adequate funding for the public health, safety and welfare in
future years; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Camas has determined after such consideration that
the public interest is best served by amending Section 3.10.010-Use and Accountability of Tax
Proceeds by adding a review provision; amending Section 3 .10.050-Tax Year to provide Janumy 1,
2025 as the commencement date; and readopting and replacing Chapter 3 .10 of the Camas Municipal
Ordinance No.24-015
Code, as amended herein, effective January 1, 2025 upon the sunsetting of Ordinance 22-024;
NOW THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Camas do ordain as follows:
Section I
Page -2
Section 3.10.010-Use and Accountability of Tax Proceeds is hereby amended to provide as
follows:
A. All revenues collected pursuant to this Chapter shall be deposited into the General Fund,
and shall be used for funding of City services as the Council shall direct through its
biennial budget.
B. The City Council shall review the need for utility tax rate or other changes as part of the
biennial budget process.
Section II
Section 3.10.050-Tax Year of the Camas Municipal Code is hereby amended to provide as
follows:
The tax year for purposes of this utility tax shall commence January I, 2025, and end
December 31, 2025, and thereafter commence January 1 and end December 31 of each subsequent
tax year.
Section III
Chapter 3.10-Utility Tax of the Camas Municipal Code which includes a two percent (2%)
utility tax upon the gross earnings of water, sewer, solid waste and stormwater utilities in the City of
Camas, as amended by this Ordinance, is hereby readopted as if set forth in full herein effective
January 1, 2025 upon the sunsetting of Ordinance 22-024 as set forth in Section VI therein.
Section IV
Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance, or its application
Ordinance No.24-015 Page -3
to any person, entity, or circumstance, be declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid for any
reason, or should any portion of this Ordinance be pre-empted by state or federal law or regulation,
such decision or pre-emption shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance
or its application to other persons or circumstances.
Section V
Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the effective date of this Ordinance is
hereby ratified and approved.
Section VI
This Ordinance shall take force and be in effect five (5) days from and after its passage,
approval, and publication according to law.
PASSED BY the Council and APPROVED by the Mayor this 18th day of November,
2024.
A~~
City Attorney