SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5094

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 16, 1993

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to incorporation elections.

SPONSORS: Senator McCaslin

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, Oke, Owen, von Reichbauer, and Winsley.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786‑7405)

Hearing Dates: January 26, 1993; January 29, 1993

BACKGROUND:

If a vote in favor of an incorporation of a city or town receives 40 percent or less of the total vote, no new election on the question of incorporation for that area or any portion of that area may be held for a period of three years.  It is felt that because a city or town incorporation attempt is almost always a volunteer citizen effort, the existing 40 percent threshold is too high.

SUMMARY:

A new election on the question of the incorporation of a city or town may not be held for three years if the favorable vote on the question of incorporation is 30 percent or less of the total vote. 

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This gives citizens a chance to reassess where the favorable sentiment is and try again within a reasonable time.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Stan Finkelstein, Association of Washington Cities