BILL ANALYSIS

SSB 5219

TITLE OF THE BILL:  Relating to annexations by less than county-wide port districts in areas having no registered voters.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES:  Allows port districts that are less than county-wide to annex areas contiguous to the district for industrial development if the area is void of registered voters.

SPONSORS:  Senate State & Local Government Committee (originally sponsored by Senators Swecker, Zarelli, T. Sheldon and Snyder.)

HEARING DATE:  Monday, March 29, 1999

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

ANALYSIS PREPARED BY:  Scott MacColl (786-7106)

BACKGROUND:

Port Districts that are less than county wide may annex territory within the county using two different methods:

(1) By petition of the commissioners of the port district, issue a resolution for annexation and submit the petition to the county legislative authority.  The county legislative authority then holds an annexation vote for the voters in the proposed port district area.

(2) By petition of residents of an area representing ten percent of registered voters in the last general election.  The commission must issue a resolution for annexation and submit the petition to the county legislative authority.  The county legislative authority then holds an annexation vote for the voters in the proposed port district area.

SUMMARY:

Two new methods of annexation for port districts that are less than county-wide are authorized.  The two methods are:

(1) A port district may annex an area contiguous to port boundaries that is not within another port district=s boundaries, and contains no registered voters.  The petition for annexation must be signed by registered owners of 75% of the property value of the area. 

The commission must hold public hearings, and then has the option of annexing all or part of the proposed areas.  Following the hearing, the commission must either approve or disapprove the annexation by resolution of the commission.  The annexation is final when the commission files the resolution with the board of county commissioners for that district.

(2) A port district may annex an area contiguous to port boundaries that is not served by another port district and for industrial development or other port purposes through a majority vote of the commission, and with written consent of all the owners of the property to be annexed.  The commission may approve the annexation by resolution, and without public hearings.  The annexation is final when the commission files the resolution with the board of county commissioners for that district.

The annexed property may not be taxed or assessed for payment of outstanding indebtedness of the port district for either method.  The authorization for these annexation methods expires December 31, 2003.