FINAL BILL REPORT
SHB 63
C 432 L 87
BYHouse Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Unsoeld, Haugen, Cooper, Madsen, Nutley, Belcher and May)
Revising provisions on lake management districts.
House Committe on Local Government
Senate Committee on Parks & Ecology
SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED
BACKGROUND:
Legislation was enacted in 1985 authorizing the creation of lake management districts, which are mechanisms within which special assessments are imposed on real property to finance lake improvement and maintenance programs, such as the removal of weeds.
SUMMARY:
The laws relating to lake management districts are altered:
Rates and charges can be imposed in a lake management district in addition to, or in lieu of, special assessments. The county legislative authority is granted the authority to reduce rates and charges for low income persons. Revenue bonds may be issued payable from these rates and charges. Special procedures to notify the state are provided if state property would be subject to the rates and charges.
The signature requirement to initiate the creation of a lake management district is altered from the greater of ten landowners or 25 percent of the landowners, to the owners of 15 percent or more of the acreage in the proposed district.
The voting scheme to authorize the creation of a district is altered from weighted voting based on acreage and lake front footage, to one vote for each dollar of special assessment or rate and charge proposed to be imposed on a property owner's property.
A special assessment, or rate and charge, may not be increased to an amount greater than 110 percent of the estimated amount used as the basis for voting to create the district.
It is clarified that a variety of factors, including land uses, can be used to measure benefits if special assessments are imposed.
VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:
House 95 0
Senate 48 1(Senate amended)
House 61 35(House concurred)
EFFECTIVE:July 26, 1987