SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 1955

                AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 2, 1994

Brief Description:  Concerning hearings related to improvement districts.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Dunshee, H. Myers and Edmondson)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, Oke, Owen and Winsley.

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786‑7754)

Hearing Dates: March 26, 1993; March 31, 1993; February 17, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Cities and towns may create local improvement districts (LIDs) and impose special assessments within a LID to finance various improvements.

The use of special assessments in a LID to finance improvements involves various steps and two hearings.  One hearing is at the beginning of the process on the issue of whether the LID should be created.  The other hearing is at the end of the process when the council acts as a board of adjustment and hears protests by property owners over the special assessments that are proposed.

Any city with a population of 15,000 or more may designate a committee of the council, or a hearings officer, to take testimony at the first hearing and make a recommendation to the full council on the creation of the proposed LID.  The full council need not hold a hearing before creating the LID.

Any city with a population of 15,000 or more may designate a committee of the council, or a hearings officer, to take testimony at the second hearing and make recommendations to the full council on the final assessment roll.  The full council is not required to hold a hearing on the final assessment roll, but must hear appeals from property owners over their final assessments, and approve, reject or modify the final assessment roll.

Counties are not granted similar authority to use a committee or hearings examiner when creating road improvement districts (RIDs) but by reference may when creating LID's for water or sewer improvements.

SUMMARY:

Any city or town regardless of population may designate a committee of the council or a hearings officer to hold hearings on both the proposed creation of an LID and on the proposed assessment roll, and to make recommendations to the council.

A county may designate a committee of its legislative authority or a hearings officer to hold hearings on both the proposed creation of a RID and proposed assessment roll, and to make recommendations to the full county legislative authority.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This will help small cities and counties to conduct LID hearings more efficiently.  Final decision is still with the council.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

Enables council members to avoid responsibilities.  Eats away at budget.

TESTIFIED:  Dave Williams, AWC (pro)