SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5401

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Government Operations, February 20, 1997

Title:  An act relating to compensation for public utility district commissioners.

Brief Description:  Setting compensation for public utility district commissioners.

Sponsors:  Senators Sellar, Snyder and Haugen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/11/97, 2/20/97 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5401 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chair; Hale, Vice Chair; Anderson, Haugen, Horn, Patterson and Swanson.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  Each public utility district commissioner of a district operating utility properties receives a salary during the calendar year dependent upon the total gross revenue of the district from its distribution system and its generating system as follows: 

Over $15 million   $500/month

$2 to $15 million     $350/month

Commissioners of other districts serve without salary unless a resolution provides for a salary, which must not exceed $200/month.  This salary schedule has been in effect since 1977.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Public utility district commissioner salaries are raised as follows:

Over $15 million   -From $500/month to $1,000/month.  A resolution could raise salary up to $1,300/month

$2 to $15 million   -From $350/month to $700/month.  A resolution could raise salary up to $900/month

Commissioners of  -With passage of a resolution, from up to $200/month to up to

other districts$400/month

The total gross revenue of a public utility district, for setting salaries, is no longer restricted to revenue only from a  distribution system and its generating system.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill does not contain an inflation adjustment for those salaries authorized by resolution of the commissioners.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  None requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The salaries have not been adjusted in 20 years.  We want to get more people to run for PUD commissioner.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Sellar, prime sponsor; Steven Duncan, PUD Association; John Goldbury, Benton PUD; Chuck Moon, Snohomish PUD; Bruce Jorgenson, Mason 3 PUD.