FINAL BILL REPORT
HB 2365
C 292 L 96
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Revising provisions for bridge and service districts.
Sponsors: Representatives Casada and Pelesky.
House Committee on Transportation
Senate Committee on Government Operations
Background: The legislative authority of a county is allowed to establish one or more service districts within the county for the purpose of providing and funding capital and maintenance costs for any bridge or road improvement. Costs for the improvements may be funded by special assessments on all property benefiting from the improvement, as well as an additional property tax levied on all properties within the service district. The county legislative authority is the governing body of the service district.
The bond counsel for Pierce County has stated that it could not recommend the sale of bonds due to possible conflicts with Article 7 of the Washington State Constitution. In the opinion of the bond counsel, the additional property taxes violate the equal taxation rule because the county legislative authority governs properties inside the service district as well as those outside the service district, making it unclear whether the service district is an independent municipal entity.
Summary: The governing body of a road and bridge service district is changed to a three-person board of commissioners appointed by the county legislative authority or county executive. The commissioners of the road and bridge service district must reside within the boundaries of the service district. The commissioners first appointed will serve terms of one, two, and three years, respectively, from the date of their appointment. Thereafter, service district commissioners shall be appointed for a term of office of five years. A referendum can be filed to call an election to retain any and all commissioners.
Votes on Final Passage:
House 96 0
Senate 49 0 (Senate amended)
House 95 0 (House concurred)
Effective: June 6, 1996