HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5128

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Governmental Operations (originally sponsored by Senator McCaslin)

Specifying notice requirements for local improvements.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Ferguson, Ranking Republican Member; Horn, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Phillips, Raiter, Rayburn,Todd, Wolfe, Wood and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (7867127)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 13, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Cities, counties, fire protection districts, port districts, public utility districts, sewer districts, water districts, and irrigation districts may form local improvement districts.  Upon the filing of a petition or the adoption of a resolution initiating a proceeding for the formation of a local improvement district or utility local improvement district, preliminary estates are made of the cost and expense of the proposed improvement.  The actual assessments may vary substantially from the assessment estimates so long as they do not exceed a figure equal to the increased value the improvement adds to the property.

SUMMARY:

Any notice given to the public or to owners of land in the formation of local improvement districts or utility local improvement districts must contain a statement that actual assessments may vary from assessment estimates so long as the assessments do not exceed a figure equal to the increased true and fair value that the property receives as a result of the improvement or street lighting that is financed by the local improvement district.  For cities, the petition or resolution must also contain such statement.

The process by which a local government notifies the state that state property is subject to assessments imposed by the local government is made applicable to rates or charges imposed by a local government on state property.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Stan Finkelstein, Association of Washington Cities.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This parallels what the existing law permits concerning the maximum level of a local improvement district (LID) special assessment.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.