FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5853

                           C 5 L 98

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing larger fire protection districts to issue warrants for payment of obligations.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Goings, McCaslin, Haugen, Winsley and Rasmussen).

Senate Committee on Government Operations

House Committee on Government Administration

Background:  The county treasurer acts as the financial officer of the fire protection districts, or the largest portion of any fire protection district, lying within its boundaries.  The county treasurer receives and disburses revenues, collects taxes and assessments for the benefit of the district and credits district revenues to the proper fund.  The county auditor issues the warrants on vouchers approved by the board of commissioners and the district secretary.

Some fire protection districts protect properties with assessed values exceeding $1 billion and employ full-time professional, secretarial and administrative staff.  The annual district operating budgets of five fire protection districts exceed $5 million.  Their financial affairs can be complex.

Summary:  Fire protection districts with annual operating budgets of $5 million or more are permitted to adopt a policy for issuing warrants to satisfy the claims or other obligations of the district.  The county treasurer retains the obligation of redeeming the warrants.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 49 0

House     97 0

Effective:  June 11, 1998