SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1393

BYHouse Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Cantwell, Miller, P. King, Cole, Betrozoff, Rust and Sprenkle)

Revising provisions for park and recreation service areas.

House Committe on Local Government

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):

Senate Staff:Sam Thompson (786-7754); Eugene Green (786-7405)

AS OF FEBRUARY 22, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Park and recreation service areas are special districts authorized to operate park and recreation facilities.  The governing body of a park and recreation service district is the legislative authority of the county within which the service district is located.

Voters of a park and recreation service district may approve both single-year excess property tax levies for general purposes and multi-year excess property tax levies to redeem general obligation bonds issued for capital purposes only.  Voters of a park and recreation service area additionally may authorize the service area to impose regular property tax levies of up to fifteen cents per $1000 of assessed valuation for a six-year period for general purposes, if the ballot proposition providing for such taxes is approved by at least a sixty percent margin, and where the number of voters voting on the proposition is at least equal to forty percent of the total within the service area who voted at the last general election.

A park and recreation service area can operate park facilities owned by the county within which it is located if authorized by the county.  A park and recreation service area can operate park facilities owned by a city or town located within its boundaries if authorized by the city or town.

SUMMARY:

Park and recreation service areas are authorized specifically to possess many of the functions that courts ascribe to governmental entities, including the authority to own property, hire staff, enter into contracts, accept gifts, and to sue and be sued. Language is altered to clarify that the members of the county legislative authority, acting ex-officio and independently, constitute the governing body.

Park and recreation service areas are authorized to: Impose fees for the use of facilities they operate; exercise the powers of eminent domain; act cooperatively with other governments in providing recreational facilities; contract with the county to administer purchasing.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested