Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Local Government Committee
SB 5565
Brief Description: Allowing fire districts and regional fire authorities to carry out certain treasurer functions.
Sponsors: Senators Sheldon, Rolfes, Lovick and Mullet.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows fire protection districts and regional fire protection authorities with over $10 million in annual revenue for the preceding three consecutive years to designate a person with financial or fiscal experience as the treasurer of the district or authority.
  • Provides the designated treasurer of the fire protection district and regional fire authorities the powers, responsibilities, and duties of county treasurer and county auditor with regard to the financial matters of the district.
Hearing Date: 2/16/22
Staff: Elizabeth Allison (786-7129).
Background:

Fire Protection Districts. 

Fire protection districts (District) are special purpose districts established to provide fire prevention, fire suppression, and emergency medical services to protect life and property within a district's boundaries, which can include incorporated and unincorporated areas.  The affairs of a District are managed by a board of elected fire commissioners.

 

The county treasurer of the county in which all or the largest portion of any District is located is the financial agent of the District and has the duty to to receive and disburse District revenues, to collect taxes and assessments, and to credit District revenues to the proper fund.  When a District is located in multiple counties, the county treasurer of each of the other counties in which the District is located must collect the District's taxes and assessments imposed on property located with the county and transfer the funds to the county treasurer in which the largest portion of the District is located.

 

The auditor of the county in which all or the largest portion of any District is located is responsible for issuing warrants against proper funds of the District. 

 

Regional Fire Protection Service Authorities.

A regional fire protection service authority (RFA) is a special purpose district whose boundaries are coextensive with two or more fire protection jurisdictions, including a District or city fire department.  An RFA is established to conduct fire protection services at a regional level and is governed by a board of elected officials charged with executing the RFA's service plan.  The service plan provides for the design, financing, and development of fire protection services.  An RFA is managed by a board of commissioners as determined by the service plan.  Members of the board may only be elected officials of participating fire protection jurisdictions and elected commissioners.

 

The county treasurer of the county in which the RFA is located must collect taxes levied within the District.  When an RFA is located in more than one county, the county treasurer of each of the other counties in which the RFA is located must collect the RFA's taxes and assessments imposed on property located with the county and transfer the funds to the county treasurer in which the largest portion of the RFA is located.
Summary of Bill:

Fire Protection Districts.

The board of commissioners of a District with more than $10 million in annual revenues for the preceding three consecutive years may, by resolution, designate a person with financial or fiscal experience as the treasurer of the District.  The designated treasurer has the same powers, responsibilities, and duties as the county treasurer, and is subject to the same restrictions.

 

The Districts that have appointed a treasurer, other than the county treasurer of the respective district, may issue warrants against the accounts of the District using vouchers approved and signed by a majority of the District board and secretary.  The designated treasurer may also pay general obligation bonds and their accrued interest, as well as submit a monthly report to the District's secretary detailing the District's fund balances and receipts and disbursements of each fund during the preceding month. 

 

Regional Fire Protection Service Authorities.

An RFA with more than $10 million in annual revenues for the three preceding consecutive years, or an RFA that is being formed by particpating jurisdictions that cumulatively had more than $10 million in annual revenue for the preceding three years, may, by resolution, designate a person with financial or fiscal experience as the treasurer of the RFA.  The designated treasurer has the same powers, responsibilities, and duties as the county treasurer, and is subject to the same restrictions.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.