SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6559

BYSenator Anderson

Amending provisions for water and sewer districts.

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 3, 1988; February 4, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6559 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Zimmerman, Vice Chairman; Metcalf, Pullen.

Senate Staff:Desley Brooks (786-7443); Sam Thompson (786-7754)

                  February 5, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, FEBRUARY 4, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Water and sewer districts are restricted as to the type of facilities they may construct.  In addition, real property owned by a water or sewer district may not be sold for less than 90 percent of its appraised value as established by three written appraisals made not more than six months before the sale date.

SUMMARY:

Water districts and sewer districts are given clear authority to construct buildings and other necessary district facilities.

If after 180 days no purchaser can be obtained for property owned by a water or sewer district at 90 percent or more of the appraised value, the Board of Commissioners of the district may adopt a resolution stating that they are unable to sell the property at the 90 percent amount.  The district may then sell the property at the highest obtainable value.  When the property is sold at the highest obtainable value, the sale must be by public auction.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The proposed substitute changes the original bill in two ways.  First, it requires water districts and sewer districts to advertise notices of public sale of real property owned by the district in the classified section, the display advertisement section and the legal notice section of the newspaper.  Second, it eliminates the requirement that a board of county commissioners meet twice to consider the formation of a proposed water or sewer district if the county does not have a boundary review board.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Joe Daniels, Washington Association of Water/Wastewater Districts (for); Marilyn Showalter, Foster, Pepper & Shefelman, (for)