SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5128

BYSenate Committee on Governmental Operations (originally sponsored by Senator McCaslin)

Specifying notice requirements for local improvements.

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 24, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5128 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; DeJarnatt, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Eugene Green (786-7405); Sam Thompson (786-7754)

                  April 14, 1989

House Committe on Local Government

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 3, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Cities, counties, fire protection districts, port districts, public utility districts, sewer districts, water districts, and irrigation districts may form local improvement districts.  Upon the filing of a petition or the adoption of a resolution initiating a proceeding for the formation of a local improvement district or utility local improvement district, preliminary estimates are made of the cost and expense of the proposed improvement.  The actual assessments may vary substantially from the assessment estimates so long as they do not exceed a figure equal to the increased value the improvement adds to the property.  Citizens have complained that if they had known that the actual assessment could be more than double the assessment estimates they may not have agreed to the formation of the improvement district.

SUMMARY:

Any notice given to the public or to owners of land in the formation of local improvement districts or utility local improvement districts must contain a statement that actual assessments may vary from assessment estimates so long as they do not exceed a figure equal to the increased true and fair value the improvement adds to the property.  For cities, the petition or resolution must also contain such statement.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Kent Swisher, Association of Washington Cities (pro)

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

Sections 1 through 12 of the striking amendment are SSB 5128 which mandates that any notice given to the public or to owners of land in the formation of local improvement districts or utility local improvement districts must contain a statement that actual assessments may vary from assessment estimates so long as they do not exceed a figure equal to the increased true and fair value the improvement adds to the property.  For cities, the petition or resolution must also contain such statement.

The remainder of the striking amendment consists of HB 1895, which passed the House but was not heard by the Senate committee.  The special notice procedure for local governments to notify the state that the local government is intending to impose special assessments on state-owned land is made applicable to rates and charges that are proposed to be imposed on state land by a local government, if state lands are subject to such rates and charges.