HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. HB 1943

Special Dist. Comm./Per Diem Compensation       Public Hrg: 2/26/97

Brief Title

Reps. Reams/Scott/D. Schmidt                        Staff Contact: S. Lundin

Sponsor                                    Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7127

BACKGROUND:

Metropolitan park district commissioners serve without compensation.

Fire protection district commissioners are paid per diem compensation at a rate of $50 per day or portion thereof for attending board meetings and performing other services on behalf of the district, not to exceed $4,800 per year.

Water-sewer district commissioners are paid per diem compensation at a rate of $50 per day or portion thereof devoted to the business of the district, not to exceed $4,800 per year.

Port district commissioners are paid per diem compensation at a rate of $50 per day or portion thereof for actually attending board meetings and performing other services on behalf of the district, not to exceed $4,800 per year if the port district had a gross operating income of $25 million in the preceding calendar year or not to exceed $6,000 per year if the port district had a gross operating income of $25 million or more in the preceding calendar year.  In addition, port district commissioners receive a salary of $500 per month if the port district had a gross operating income of $25 million or more in the preceding calendar year or $200 per month, if the port district had a gross operating income of from $1 million to less than $25 million in the preceding calendar year.  In lieu of this compensation, a port commission may set compensation to be paid to commissioners.

The state constitution prohibits elected officials who set their own salaries from increasing their salaries during their current terms of office.

SUMMARY:

The commissioners of a metropolitan park district may adopt a resolution providing for per diem compensation for commissioners at a rate of $66 for each day or portion of a day devoted to the business of the district, not to exceed $6,350 per year.

                                                         Cont.

HB 1943 - Page 2

The commissioners of a fire protection district may adopt a resolution increasing rate of per diem compensation for commissioners from $50 to $66 and increasing the yearly ceiling on this compensation from $4,800 to $6,350.

The commissioners of a water-sewer district may adopt a resolution increasing rate of per diem compensation for commissioners from $50 to $66 per day and increasing the yearly ceiling on this compensation from $4,800 to $6,350.

The commissioners of a port district may adopt a resolution increasing rate of per diem compensation for commissioners from $50 to $66 per day and increasing the yearly ceiling on this compensation from $4,800 to $6,350 if the port district had gross operating income of less than $25 million in the preceding calendar year or from $6,000 to $8,000 if the port district had gross operating income of $25 million or more in the preceding calendar year.  It is not clear if this new language establishes an overall limitation on the existing authority of any board of port commissioners to set any amount of compensation for commissioners or merely limits the amount of per day compensation that any board of port commissioners may set for commissioners and does not limit any other type of compensation increase that could be made.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not Requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.