BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to internal matters for the operation of counties; amending RCW 2.08.100, 36.40.200, and 36.40.250; adding a new section to chapter 36.40 RCW; and repealing RCW 36.40.110.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 2.08.100 and 1939 c 189 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The county auditor of each county shall ((draw his warrant on the treasurer of such county on the first Monday of each month for the amount of salary due for the previous month from such county to the judge of the superior court thereof, and said warrant shall be paid by said treasurer out of the salary fund of said county: PROVIDED, That no such warrant shall be issued until the judge who is to receive the same shall have made an affidavit, in the manner provided by law, that no cause in his court remains pending and undecided contrary to the provisions of RCW 2.08.240 and of section 20, Article 4, Constitution of the state of Washington)) pay superior court judges in the same means and manner provided for all other elected officials.

Sec. 2. RCW 36.40.200 and 1963 c 4 s 36.40.200 are each amended to read as follows:

All appropriations shall lapse at the end of the fiscal year: PROVIDED, That the appropriation accounts ((~~shall~~)) may remain open for a period of thirty days, and may, at the auditor's discretion, remain open for a period not to exceed sixty days thereafter for the payment of claims incurred against such appropriations prior to the close of the fiscal year.

After such period has expired all appropriations shall become null and void and any claim presented thereafter against any such appropriation shall be provided for in the next ensuing budget: PROVIDED, That this shall not prevent payments upon uncompleted improvements in progress at the close of the fiscal year.

Sec. 3. RCW 36.40.250 and 1995 c 193 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

In lieu of adopting an annual budget, the county legislative authority of any county may adopt an ordinance or a resolution providing for biennial budgets with a mid-biennium review and modification for the second year of the biennium. The county legislative authority may repeal such an ordinance or resolution and revert to adopting annual budgets for a period commencing after the end of a biennial budget cycle. The county legislative authority of a county with a biennial budget cycle may adopt supplemental and emergency budgets in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as the county legislative authority in a county with an annual budget cycle.

The procedure and steps for adopting a biennial budget shall conform with the procedure and steps for adopting an annual budget and with requirements established by the state auditor. The state auditor shall establish requirements for preparing and adopting the mid-biennium review and modification for the second year of the biennium.

Expenditures included in the biennial budget, mid-term modification budget, supplemental budget, or emergency budget shall constitute the appropriations for the county during the applicable period of the budget and every county official shall be limited in making expenditures or incurring liabilities to the amount of the detailed appropriation item or classes in the budget.

In lieu of adopting an annual budget or a biennial budget with a mid-biennium review for all funds, the legislative authority of any county may adopt an ordinance or a resolution providing for a biennial budget or budgets for any one or more funds of the county, with a mid-biennium review and modification for the second year of the biennium, with the other funds remaining on an annual budget. The county legislative authority may repeal such an ordinance or resolution and revert to adopting annual budgets for a period commencing after the end of the biennial budget or biennial budgets for the specific agency fund or funds. The county legislative authority of a county with a biennial budget cycle may adopt supplemental and emergency budgets in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as the county legislative authority in a county with an annual budget cycle.

The county legislative authority shall hold a public hearing on the proposed county property taxes and proposed road district property taxes prior to imposing the property tax levies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 36.40 RCW to read as follows:

In addition to the supplemental appropriations provided in RCW 36.40.100 and 36.40.140, the county legislative authority may provide by resolution a policy for supplemental appropriations as a result of unanticipated funds from local revenue sources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. RCW 36.40.110 and 1963 c 4 s 36.40.110 are each repealed.