Background:

Annexation Methods

Current law authorizes multiple methods for municipal annexations. While code and non-code cities and towns have separate statutory requirements for governance and operation, the annexation methods employed are generally similar. A summary of the methods is as follows:

resolution/election method- requires approval of city or town resolutions by voters residing in the proposed annexation area;
petition/election method - includes initiatives petitioned by and approved by the voters residing in the proposed annexation area;
direct petition method - requires approval of direct petitions signed by property owners comprising a specific percentage of land value, without voter action. An alternative direct petition method based upon the signatures of qualifying property owners and registered voters meeting specified criteria is also authorized; and
resolution only method- includes annexations for municipal purposes approved by a majority of the city or town legislative body, or other actions not requiring voter or property owner action.

In addition to these methods, qualifying cities and towns may annex certain territory by ordinance through one of two additional methods if specific requirements, including the negotiation of interlocal agreements between the participating jurisdictions, are satisfied.

Regional Transit Authority.

In 1992 the Legislature authorized creation of regional transit authorities (RTAs) for the purpose of developing and operating high capacity transportation systems. An RTA may only consist of two or more contiguous counties, each having a population of 400,000 persons or more. A high capacity transportation system is an urban public transportation system that operates principally on exclusive rights-of-way and provides a substantially higher level of passenger capacity, speed, and service frequency than traditional public transportation systems operating mainly on general purpose roadways.

An RTA is governed by a board of representatives appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the legislative authority of each member county. Membership is proportioned among counties based on population. Established in 1993, Sound Transit is the only RTA formed in the state, with boundaries that include parts of King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.

Statutes governing RTAs include provisions for boundary alterations. If, at the time of formation of an RTA, a portion of a city is determined to be within the boundaries of the RTA, the entire city must be included within the RTA's boundaries. Additionally, after the initial voter approval of the RTA, elections to add areas contiguous to the RTA may be called by the RTA, provided consultation requirements have been met and the applicable county or city legislative authority agrees to the election. Only those areas that would benefit from the services provided by the RTA may be included in the annexation area and services or projects proposed for the area must be consistent with a regional transportation plan. The election may include a single ballot proposition providing for annexation to the RTA and imposition of the taxes at rates already imposed within the RTA's boundaries.