BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to duties of the county treasurer pertaining to management of debt; amending RCW 28A.320.300, 28A.320.310, 28A.320.320, 36.29.020, 36.48.070, 84.64.050, 84.64.080, and 84.64.120; adding a new section to chapter 36.01 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 28A.320.300 and 1990 c 33 s 335 are each amended to read as follows:

Any common school district board of directors is empowered to direct and authorize, and to delegate authority to an employee, officer, or agent of the common school district or the educational service district to direct and authorize, the county treasurer to invest funds described in RCW 28A.320.310 and 28A.320.320 and funds from state and federal sources as are then or thereafter received by the educational service district, and such funds from county sources as are then or thereafter received by the county treasurer, for distribution to the common school districts. Funds from state, county and federal sources which are so invested may be invested only for the period the funds are not required for the immediate necessities of the common school district as determined by the school district board of directors or its delegatee, and shall be invested in behalf of the common school district pursuant to the terms of RCW 28A.320.310, 28A.320.320, ((or)) 36.29.020, 36.29.022, or 36.29.024 as the nature of the funds shall dictate. A grant of authority by a common school district pursuant to this section shall be by resolution of the board of directors and shall specify the duration and extent of the authority so granted. Any authority delegated to an educational service district pursuant to this section may be redelegated pursuant to RCW 28A.310.220.

Sec. 2. RCW 28A.320.310 and 1990 c 33 s 336 are each amended to read as follows:

The board of directors of any school district of the state of Washington which now has, or hereafter shall have, funds in the capital projects fund of the district in the office of the county treasurer which in the judgment of said board are not required for the immediate necessities of the district, may invest and reinvest all, or any part, of such funds ((in United States securities, as hereinafter specified after and pursuant to a resolution adopted by the board, authorizing and directing the county treasurer, as ex officio the treasurer of said district, to invest or reinvest, said moneys or any designated amount thereof in United States securities and specifying the type or character of the United States securities in which said moneys shall be invested)) pursuant to RCW 35.39.030, 36.29.020, 36.29.022, 36.29.024, 39.59.020, 39.59.030, and 43.84.080: PROVIDED, That nothing herein authorized, or the type and character of the securities thus specified, shall have in itself the effect of delaying any program of building for which said funds shall have been authorized. Said funds and said securities and the profit and interest thereon, and the proceeds thereof, shall be held by the county treasurer to the credit and benefit of the capital projects fund of the district in the county treasurer's office. ((If in the judgment of the board it shall be necessary to redeem or to sell any of the purchased securities before their ultimate maturity date, the board may, by resolution, direct the county treasurer to cause such redemption to be had at the "Redemption Value" of said securities or to sell said bonds and securities at not less than market value and accrued interest. The foregoing "securities" shall include United States bonds, federal treasury notes and treasury bonds and United States certificates of indebtedness and other federal securities which may, during the life of this statute, come within the terms of this section.))

Sec. 3. RCW 28A.320.320 and 1983 c 66 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The county treasurer, or the trustee, guardian, or any other custodian of any school fund, when authorized to do so by the board of directors of any school district, shall invest or reinvest any school funds of such district in investment ((~~deposits in any qualified public depositary, or any obligations, securities, certificates, notes, bonds, or short term securities or obligations, of the United States~~)) securities pursuant to RCW 36.29.020 and 36.29.022. The county treasurer shall have the power to select the particular investment in which said funds may be invested. All earnings and income from such investments shall inure to the benefit of ((~~any~~)) the school fund ((designated by the board of directors of the school district which such board may lawfully designate: PROVIDED, That any interest or earnings being credited to a fund different from that which earned the interest or earnings shall only be expended for instructional supplies, equipment or capital outlay purposes)) for which the investment is made. This section shall apply to all funds which may be lawfully so invested or reinvested which in the judgment of the school board are not required for the immediate necessities of the district.

Five percent of the interest or earnings, with an annual minimum of ten dollars or annual maximum of fifty dollars, on any transactions authorized by each resolution of the board of school directors shall be paid as an investment service fee to the office of county treasurer when the interest or earnings becomes available to the school district or pursuant to RCW 36.29.022 and 36.29.024.

Sec. 4. RCW 36.29.020 and 1997 c 393 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

The county treasurer shall keep all moneys belonging to the state, or to any county, in his or her own possession until disbursed according to law. The county treasurer shall not place the same in the possession of any person to be used for any purpose; nor shall he or she loan or in any manner use or permit any person to use the same; but it shall be lawful for a county treasurer to deposit any such moneys in any regularly designated qualified public depositary. Any municipal corporation may by action of its governing body authorize any of its funds which are not required for immediate expenditure, and which are in the custody of the county treasurer or other municipal corporation treasurer, to be invested by such treasurer. The county treasurer may invest in savings or time accounts in designated qualified public depositaries or in certificates, notes, or bonds of the United States, or other obligations of the United States or its agencies, or of any corporation wholly owned by the government of the United States; in bankers' acceptances purchased on the secondary market, in federal home loan bank notes and bonds, federal land bank bonds and federal national mortgage association notes, debentures and guaranteed certificates of participation, or the obligations of any other government sponsored corporation whose obligations are or may become eligible as collateral for advances to member banks as determined by the board of governors of the federal reserve system or deposit such funds or any portion thereof in investment deposits as defined in RCW 39.58.010 secured by collateral in accordance with the provisions of chapters 39.58 and 39.59 RCW: PROVIDED, Five percent of the earnings, with an annual maximum of fifty dollars, on each transaction authorized by the governing body shall be paid as an investment service fee to the office of the county treasurer or other municipal corporation treasurer when the earnings become available to the governing body: PROVIDED FURTHER, That if such investment service fee amounts to five dollars or less the county treasurer or other municipal corporation treasurer may waive such fee.

If in the judgment of the governing body of the municipal corporation or the county treasurer it is necessary to redeem or to sell any of the purchased securities before their ultimate maturity date, the governing body may, by resolution, direct the county treasurer pursuant to RCW 36.29.010(8) to cause such redemption to be had at the redemption value of the securities or to sell the securities at not less than market value and accrued interest.

Whenever the funds of any municipal corporation which are not required for immediate expenditure are in the custody or control of the county treasurer, and the governing body of such municipal corporation has not taken any action pertaining to the investment of any such funds, the county finance committee shall direct the county treasurer, under the investment policy of the county finance committee, to invest, to the maximum prudent extent, such funds or any portion thereof in savings or time accounts in designated qualified public depositaries or in certificates, notes, or bonds of the United States, or other obligations of the United States or its agencies, or of any corporation wholly owned by the government of the United States, in bankers' acceptances purchased on the secondary market, in federal home loan bank notes and bonds, federal land bank bonds and federal national mortgage association notes, debentures and guaranteed certificates of participation, or the obligations of any other government sponsored corporation whose obligations are or may become eligible as collateral for advances to member banks as determined by the board of governors of the federal reserve system or deposit such funds or any portion thereof in investment deposits as defined in RCW 39.58.010 secured by collateral in accordance with the provisions of chapters 39.58 and 39.59 RCW: PROVIDED, That the county treasurer shall have the power to select the specific qualified financial institution in which the funds may be invested. The interest or other earnings from such investments or deposits shall be deposited in the current expense fund of the county and may be used for general county purposes. The investment or deposit and disposition of the interest or other earnings therefrom authorized by this paragraph shall not apply to such funds as may be prohibited by the state Constitution from being so invested or deposited.

Sec. 5. RCW 36.48.070 and 1991 c 245 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

The county treasurer, the county auditor, and the chair of the county legislative authority, ex officio, shall constitute the county finance committee. The county treasurer shall act as chair of the committee and the county auditor as secretary thereof. The committee shall keep a full and complete record of all its proceedings in appropriate books of record and all such records and all correspondence relating to the committee shall be kept in the office of the county auditor and shall be open to public inspection. The committee shall approve county investment policy and a debt policy and shall make appropriate rules and regulations for the carrying out of the provisions of RCW 36.48.010 through 36.48.060, not inconsistent with law.

Sec. 6. RCW 84.64.050 and 1991 c 245 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:

After the expiration of three years from the date of delinquency, when any property remains on the tax rolls for which no certificate of delinquency has been issued, the county treasurer shall proceed to issue certificates of delinquency on the property to the county for all years' taxes, interest, and costs: PROVIDED, That the county treasurer, with the consent of the county legislative authority, may elect to issue a certificate for fewer than all years' taxes, interest, and costs to a minimum of the taxes, interest, and costs for the earliest year.

Certificates of delinquency shall be prima facie evidence that:

(1) The property described was subject to taxation at the time the same was assessed;

(2) The property was assessed as required by law;

(3) The taxes or assessments were not paid at any time before the issuance of the certificate;

(4) Such certificate shall have the same force and effect as a lis pendens required under chapter 4.28 RCW.

The county treasurer may include in the certificate of delinquency any assessments which are due on the property and are the responsibility of the county treasurer to collect. For purposes of this chapter, "taxes, interest, and costs" include any assessments which are so included by the county treasurer, and "interest" means interest and penalties unless the context requires otherwise.

The treasurer shall file the certificates when completed with the clerk of the court at no cost to the treasurer, and the treasurer shall thereupon, with legal assistance from the county prosecuting attorney, proceed to foreclose in the name of the county, the tax liens embraced in such certificates. Notice and summons must be served or notice given in a manner reasonably calculated to inform the owner or owners, and any person having a recorded interest in or lien of record upon the property, of the foreclosure action to appear within thirty days after service of such notice and defend such action or pay the amount due. Either (a) personal service upon the owner or owners and any person having a recorded interest in or lien of record upon the property, or (b) publication once in a newspaper of general circulation, which is circulated in the area of the property and mailing of notice by certified mail to the owner or owners and any person having a recorded interest in or lien of record upon the property, or, if a mailing address is unavailable, personal service upon the occupant of the property, if any, is sufficient. If such notice is returned as unclaimed, the treasurer shall send notice by regular first class mail. The notice shall include the legal description on the tax rolls, the year or years for which assessed, the amount of tax and interest due, and the name of owner, or reputed owner, if known, and the notice must include the local street address, if any, for informational purposes only. The certificates of delinquency issued to the county may be issued in one general certificate in book form including all property, and the proceedings to foreclose the liens against the property may be brought in one action and all persons interested in any of the property involved in the proceedings may be made codefendants in the action, and if unknown may be therein named as unknown owners, and the publication of such notice shall be sufficient service thereof on all persons interested in the property described therein, except as provided above. The person or persons whose name or names appear on the treasurer's rolls as the owner or owners of the property shall be considered and treated as the owner or owners of the property for the purpose of this section, and if upon the treasurer's rolls it appears that the owner or owners of the property are unknown, then the property shall be proceeded against, as belonging to an unknown owner or owners, as the case may be, and all persons owning or claiming to own, or having or claiming to have an interest therein, are hereby required to take notice of the proceedings and of any and all steps thereunder: PROVIDED, That prior to the sale of the property, the treasurer shall order or conduct a title search of the property to be sold to determine the legal description of the property to be sold and the record title holder, and if the record title holder or holders differ from the person or persons whose name or names appear on the treasurer's rolls as the owner or owners, the record title holder or holders shall be considered and treated as the owner or owners of the property for the purpose of this section, and shall be entitled to the notice provided for in this section. Such title search shall be included in the costs of foreclosure.

The county treasurer shall not sell property which is eligible for deferral of taxes under chapter 84.38 RCW but shall require the owner of the property to file a declaration to defer taxes under chapter 84.38 RCW.

Sec. 7. RCW 84.64.080 and 1991 c 245 s 27 are each amended to read as follows:

The court shall examine each application for judgment foreclosing tax lien, and if defense (specifying in writing the particular cause of objection) be offered by any person interested in any of the lands or lots to the entry of judgment against the same, the court shall hear and determine the matter in a summary manner, without other pleadings, and shall pronounce judgment as the right of the case may be; or the court may, in its discretion, continue such individual cases, wherein defense is offered, to such time as may be necessary, in order to secure substantial justice to the contestants therein; but in all other cases the court shall proceed to determine the matter in a summary manner as above specified. In all judicial proceedings of any kind for the collection of taxes, and interest and costs thereon, all amendments which by law can be made in any personal action pending in such court shall be allowed, and no assessments of property or charge for any of the taxes shall be considered illegal on account of any irregularity in the tax list or assessment rolls or on account of the assessment rolls or tax list not having been made, completed or returned within the time required by law, or on account of the property having been charged or listed in the assessment or tax lists without name, or in any other name than that of the owner, and no error or informality in the proceedings of any of the officers connected with the assessment, levying or collection of the taxes, shall vitiate or in any manner affect the tax or the assessment thereof, and any irregularities or informality in the assessment rolls or tax lists or in any of the proceedings connected with the assessment or levy of such taxes or any omission or defective act of any officer or officers connected with the assessment or levying of such taxes, may be, in the discretion of the court, corrected, supplied and made to conform to the law by the court. The court shall give judgment for such taxes, interest and costs as shall appear to be due upon the several lots or tracts described in the notice of application for judgment or complaint, and such judgment shall be a several judgment against each tract or lot or part of a tract or lot for each kind of tax included therein, including all interest and costs, and the court shall order and direct the clerk to make and enter an order for the sale of such real property against which judgment is made, or vacate and set aside the certificate of delinquency or make such other order or judgment as in the law or equity may be just. The order shall be signed by the judge of the superior court, shall be delivered to the county treasurer, and shall be full and sufficient authority for him or her to proceed to sell the property for the sum as set forth in the order and to take such further steps in the matter as are provided by law. The county treasurer shall immediately after receiving the order and judgment of the court proceed to sell the property as provided in this chapter to the highest and best bidder for cash. The acceptable minimum bid shall be the total amount of taxes, interest, ((~~penalties,~~)) and costs. All sales shall be made at a location in the county on a date and time (except Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays) as the county treasurer may direct, and shall continue from day to day (Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays excepted) during the same hours until all lots or tracts are sold, after first giving notice of the time, and place where such sale is to take place for ten days successively by posting notice thereof in three public places in the county, one of which shall be in the office of the treasurer. The notice shall be substantially in the following form:

TAX JUDGMENT SALE

Public notice is hereby given that pursuant to real property tax judgment of the superior court of the county of . . . . . . in the state of Washington, and an order of sale duly issued by the court, entered the . . . . day of . . . . . ., . . . ., in proceedings for foreclosure of tax liens upon real property, as per provisions of law, I shall on the . . . . day of . . . . . ., . . . ., at . . . . o'clock a.m., at . . . . . . in the city of . . . . . ., and county of . . . . . ., state of Washington, sell the real property to the highest and best bidder for cash, to satisfy the full amount of taxes, interest and costs adjudged to be due.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal this . . . . day of . . . . . ., . . . . .

...................................

Treasurer of ......................

county.

No county officer or employee shall directly or indirectly be a purchaser of such property at such sale.

If any buildings or improvements are upon an area encompassing more than one tract or lot, the same must be advertised and sold as a single unit.

If the highest amount bid for any such separate unit tract or lot is in excess of the minimum bid due upon the whole property included in the certificate of delinquency, the excess shall be refunded following payment of all water and sewer district liens, on application therefor, to the record owner of the property. The record owner of the property is the person who held title on the date of issuance of the certificate of delinquency. In the event no claim for the excess is received by the county treasurer within three years after the date of the sale he or she shall at expiration of the three year period deposit such excess in the current expense fund of the county. The county treasurer shall execute to the purchaser of any piece or parcel of land a tax deed. The deed so made by the county treasurer, under the official seal of his or her office, shall be recorded in the same manner as other conveyances of real property, and shall vest in the grantee, his or her heirs and assigns the title to the property therein described, without further acknowledgment or evidence of such conveyance, and shall be substantially in the following form:

State of Washington B

C ss.

County of .............. D

This indenture, made this . . . . day of . . . . . ., . . . . . ., between . . . . . ., as treasurer of . . . . . . county, state of Washington, party of the first part, and . . . . . ., party of the second part:

Witnesseth, that, whereas, at a public sale of real property held on the . . . . day of . . . . . ., . . . ., pursuant to a real property tax judgment entered in the superior court in the county of . . . . . . on the . . . . day of . . . . . ., . . . ., in proceedings to foreclose tax liens upon real property and an order of sale duly issued by the court, . . . . . . duly purchased in compliance with the laws of the state of Washington, the following described real property, to wit: (Here place description of real property conveyed) and that the . . . . . . has complied with the laws of the state of Washington necessary to entitle (him, or her or them) to a deed for the real property.

Now, therefore, know ye, that, I . . . . . ., county treasurer of the county of . . . . . ., state of Washington, in consideration of the premises and by virtue of the statutes of the state of Washington, in such cases provided, do hereby grant and convey unto . . . . . ., his or her heirs and assigns, forever, the real property hereinbefore described.

Given under my hand and seal of office this . . . . day of . . . . . ., A.D. . . . .

...............................

County Treasurer.

Sec. 8. RCW 84.64.120 and 1991 c 245 s 28 are each amended to read as follows:

Appellate review of the judgment of the superior court may be sought as in other civil cases. However, review must be sought within thirty days after the entry of the judgment and the party taking such appeal shall deposit a sum equal to all taxes, interest, ((~~penalties,~~)) and costs with the clerk of the court, conditioned that the appellant shall prosecute the appeal with effect, and will pay the amount of any taxes, interest and costs which may be finally adjudged against the real property involved in the appeal by any court having jurisdiction of the cause. No appeal shall be allowed from any judgment for the sale of land or lot for taxes unless the party taking such appeal shall before the time of giving notice of such appeal, and within thirty days herein allowed within which to appeal, deposit with the clerk of the court of the county in which the land or lots are situated, an amount of money equal to the amount of the judgment and costs rendered in such cause by the trial court. If, in case of an appeal, the judgment of the lower court shall be affirmed, in whole or in part, the supreme court or the court of appeals shall enter judgment for the amount of taxes, interest and costs, with damages not to exceed twenty percent, and shall order that the amount deposited with the clerk of the court, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be credited upon the judgment so rendered, and execution shall issue for the balance of the judgment, damages and costs. The clerk of the supreme court or the clerk of the division of the court of appeals in which the appeal is pending shall transmit to the county treasurer of the county in which the land or lots are situated a certified copy of the order of affirmance, and it shall be the duty of such county treasurer upon receiving the same to apply so much of the amount deposited with the clerk of the court, as shall be necessary to satisfy the amount of the judgment of the supreme court, and to account for the same as collected taxes. If the judgment of the superior court shall be reversed and the cause remanded for a rehearing, and if, upon a rehearing, judgment shall be rendered for the sale of the land or lots for taxes, or any part thereof, and such judgment be not appealed from, as herein provided, the clerk of such superior court shall certify to the county treasurer the amount of such judgment, and thereupon it shall be the duty of the county treasurer to certify to the county clerk the amount deposited with the clerk of the court, and the county clerk shall credit such judgment with the amount of such deposit, or so much thereof as will satisfy the judgment, and the county treasurer shall be chargeable and accountable for the amount so credited as collected taxes. Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring an additional deposit in case of more than one appeal being prosecuted in ((~~[the]~~)) the proceeding. If, upon a final hearing, judgment shall be refused for the sale of the land or lots for the taxes, ((~~penalties,~~)) interest, and costs, or any part thereof, in the proceedings, the county treasurer shall pay over to the party who shall have made such deposit, or his or her legally authorized agent or representative, the amount of the deposit, or so much thereof as shall remain after the satisfaction of the judgment against the land or lots in respect to which such deposit shall have been made.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A new section is added to chapter 36.01 RCW to read as follows:

The county legislative authority of any county that receives payment in lieu of taxes and payment equal to taxes funds from the United States department of energy under section 168 of the federal atomic energy act of 1954 and nuclear waste policy act of 1982 and that has an agreed settlement or a joint stipulation dated before January 1, 1998, which agreed settlement or joint stipulation includes funds designated for state schools, may direct the county treasurer to distribute those designated funds to reduce the outstanding debt of the school districts within the county. Any such funds shall be divided among the school districts based upon the same percentages that each district's current assessed valuation is of the total assessed value for all eligible school districts if the district has outstanding debt that equals or exceeds the amount of its distribution. If the district does not have outstanding debt that equals or exceeds the amount of its distribution, any amount above the outstanding debt shall be reallocated to the remaining eligible districts. Any funds received before January 1, 1999, shall be distributed using the percentages calculated for 1998. The county treasurer shall apply the funds to any outstanding debt obligation selected by the respective school districts.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Section 5 of this act takes effect January 1, 2000.