SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESB 5876

               As Passed Senate, March 15, 1995

Title:  An act relating to population determinations and projections by the office of financial management.

Brief Description:  Making population determinations and projections.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/28/95, 3/1/95 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/15/95, 45-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Drew, Hale, Heavey, McCaslin and Winsley.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  Each county that plans under the Growth Management Act must designate an urban growth area within which urban growth shall be encouraged and outside of which growth can occur only if it is not urban in nature.  Based upon the population growth management planning projection made for the county by OFM, the urban growth areas in the county shall include areas and densities sufficient to permit the urban growth that is projected to occur in the county for the succeeding 20-year period.

At least once every ten years, OFM must prepare 20-year growth management planning population projections for each county planning under the Growth Management Act and must review these projections with each county.

There are conflicting opinions as to whether an OFM projection is a floor, ceiling, or a floor and a ceiling.  Questions have also been raised as to the accuracy of these OFM projections.

Summary of Bill:  The 20-year growth management planning population projections prepared by OFM must also be reviewed with the cities within the county for which the projection is prepared.  The county and its cities may provide OFM relevant information on which OFM must consider and comment before adoption.

Each projection may be expressed as a range, the middle range representing OFM's most likely projection.  A city or county may petition OFM to revise the projection.  OFM must complete the first set of ranges for every county by December 31, 1995.

A comprehensive plan adopted or amended before December 31, 1995 shall not be considered to be in noncompliance with the OFM population projection if the projection in the comprehensive plan is in compliance with the range to be adopted by OFM.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  There are instances, especially in rural areas of counties, that appear to be under-counted.  Some counties already exceed the OFM projections.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Scott Merriman, WA Environmental Council (pro); Paul Parker, WA State Assn. of Counties (pro).