SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6470

      AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,

                       FEBRUARY 4, 1994

Brief Description:  Abolishing specified boundary review boards.

SPONSORS: Senators McCaslin and Haugen

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

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

Minority Report:  Do not pass. 

     Signed by Senator Loveland.

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786‑7754)

Hearing Dates: February 2, 1994; February 4, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Boundary review boards must be established in each county with a population in excess of 210,000 and may be established in smaller counties.  Board members are appointed and have authority to review and approve, disapprove or modify annexations of territory by governmental units within the county and extensions of water and sewer systems.  Pursuant to these requirements, there is a boundary review board in Spokane County.

SUMMARY:

Boundary review boards must be established in each county with a population in excess of 210,000 which is west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains.  Boundary review boards may be established in any smaller county other than a county with a population of 300,000 or more east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains.  Any boundary review board in existence in any county with a population of 300,000 or more east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains shall be abolished.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The boundary review board in Spokane has threatened efforts of the county residents to incorporate.  Boundary review board members are not elected.  Reasonable requests to annex have been frustrated by the boundary review board.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

The boundary review board in Spokane has preserved areas that need to be preserved.  Should leave decision with the county on whether to eliminate a boundary review board after a comprehensive plan has been adopted.

TESTIFIED:  Senator McCaslin, prime sponsor; Jim Reinbold, Cheney City Manager; Dave Williams, AWC; Alda Wilkinson, State Boundary Review Board Association