reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
WA Rev Code § 85.38.090 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.090 - Governing body—Reduction in size.

RCW 85.38.090 Governing body—Reduction in size.(1) Whenever the governing body of a special district has more than three members, the governing body shall be reduced to three members as of January 1, 1986, by eliminating the positions of those district governing body members with the shortest remaining terms of office. The remaining three governing body members shall have staggered terms with the one having the shortest remaining term having his or her position filled at the 1987 special district general election, the one with the next shortest remaining term having his or her position filled at the 1989 special district general election, and the one with the longest remaining term having his or her position filled at the 1992 special district general election. If any of these remaining three governing body members have identical remaining terms of office, the newly calculated remaining terms of these persons shall be determined by lot with the county auditor who assists the special district in its elections managing such lot procedure. The newly established terms shall be recorded by the county auditor.(2) However, whenever five or more special districts have consolidated under chapter 85.36 RCW and the consolidated district has five members in its governing body on July 28, 1985, the consolidated district may adopt a resolution retaining a five-member governing body. At any time thereafter, such a district may adopt a resolution and reduce the size of the governing body to three members with the reduction occurring as provided in subsection (1) of this section, but the years of the effective dates shall be extended so that the reduction occurs at the next January 1st occurring after the date of the adoption of the resolution. Whenever a special district is so governed by a five-member governing body, two members shall be elected at each of two consecutive special district general elections, and one member shall be elected at the following special district general election, each to serve a six-year staggered term.(3) Nothing in this section permits the governing body of a flood control district that is subject to RCW 85.38.290 to reduce the size of its governing body.[ 2010 c 131 § 1; 1991 c 349 § 12; 1985 c 396 § 10.]
WA Rev Code § 85.38.100 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.100 - General elections.

RCW 85.38.100 General elections.General elections shall be held in each special district on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February in each even-numbered year. The auditor of the county within which a special district, or the largest portion of a special district, is located may provide for special elections whenever necessary.[ 1991 c 349 § 5; 1985 c 396 § 11.]
WA Rev Code § 85.38.105 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.105 - Voting rights.

RCW 85.38.105 Voting rights.(1) The owner of land located in a special district who is a qualified voter of the special district shall receive two votes at any election. This section does not apply to special flood control districts consisting of three or more counties.(2) If multiple undivided interests, other than community property interests, exist in a lot or parcel and no person owns a majority undivided interest, the owners of undivided interests at least equal to a majority interest may designate in writing:(a) Which owner is eligible to vote and may cast two votes; or(b) Which two owners are eligible to vote and may cast one vote each.(3) If land is owned as community property, each spouse is entitled to one vote if both spouses otherwise qualify to vote, unless one spouse designates in writing that the other spouse may cast both votes.(4) A corporation, partnership, or governmental entity shall designate:(a) A natural person to cast its two votes; or(b) Two natural persons to each cast one of its votes.(5) Except as provided in RCW 85.08.025 and 86.09.377, no owner of land may cast more than two votes or have more than two votes cast for him or her in a special district election.[ 2009 c 144 § 1; 1991 c 349 § 2.]
WA Rev Code § 85.38.110 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.110 - Presumed eligible voters' list—Notice of requirements of voting authority—Copy of voter's list to county auditor.

RCW 85.38.110 Presumed eligible voters' list—Notice of requirements of voting authority—Copy of voter's list to county auditor.A list of presumed eligible voters shall be prepared and maintained by each special district. The list shall include the assessor's tax number for each lot or parcel in the district, the name or the names of the owners of such lots and parcels and their mailing address, the extent of the ownership interest of such persons, and if such persons are natural persons, whether they are known to be registered voters in the state of Washington. Whenever such a list is prepared, the district shall attempt to notify each owner of the requirements necessary to establish voting authority to vote. Whenever lots or parcels in the district are sold, the district shall attempt to notify the purchasers of the requirements necessary to establish voting authority. Each special district shall provide a copy of this list, and any revised list, to the auditor of the county within which all or the largest portion of the special district is located. The special district must compile the list of eligible voters and provide it to the county auditor by the first day of November preceding the special district general election. In the event the special district does not provide the county auditor with the list of qualified voters by this date, the county auditor shall compile the list and charge the special district for the costs required for its preparation. The county auditor shall not be held responsible for any errors in the list.[ 1991 c 349 § 13; 1985 c 396 § 12.]
WA Rev Code § 85.38.115 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.115 - Elections—When not required.

RCW 85.38.115 Elections—When not required.No election shall be held to elect a member of a special district governing body, or to fill the remainder of an unexpired term which arose from a vacancy on the governing body, if no one or only one person files for the position.If only one person files for the position, he or she shall be considered to have been elected to the position at the election that otherwise would have taken place for such position.If no one files for the position and the upcoming election is one at which someone would have been elected to fill the expired term, the position shall be treated as vacant at the expiration of the term.If no one files for the position and the upcoming election is one at which someone would have been elected to fill the remaining term of office, the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall be considered to have been elected to the position at the election and shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.[ 1991 c 349 § 6.]
WA Rev Code § 85.38.120 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.120 - Elections—Auditor's assistance—Notice—Auditor's costs.

RCW 85.38.120 Elections—Auditor's assistance—Notice—Auditor's costs.The auditor of the county within which a special district, or the largest portion of a special district, is located shall assist such special district with its elections as provided in this section.(1) The county auditor shall publish notice of an election to create a special district and notice of all special district elections not conducted by mail in a newspaper of general circulation in the special district at least once not more than ten nor less than three days before the election. The notices shall describe the election, give its date and times to be held, and indicate the election site or sites in the special district where ballots may be cast.(2) If a special district has at least five hundred qualified voters, then the county auditor shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation in the special district a notice of the filing period and place for filing a declaration of candidacy to become a member of the governing body. This notice shall be published at least seven days prior to the closing of the filing period. If the special district has less than five hundred qualified voters, then the special district shall mail or deliver this notice to each qualified voter of the special district at least seven days prior to the closing of the filing period.(3) All costs of the county auditor incurred related to such elections shall be reimbursed by the special district.[ 1991 c 349 § 14; 1985 c 396 § 13.]
WA Rev Code § 85.38.125 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.125 - Elections—Auditor to conduct.

RCW 85.38.125 Elections—Auditor to conduct.(1) If a special district has less than five hundred qualified voters, then the special district must contract with the county auditor to conduct the special district elections.(2) If a special district has at least five hundred qualified voters, the special district may contract with the county auditor to conduct the election. A special district with at least five hundred qualified voters may also choose to conduct its own elections. A special district that conducts its own elections must enter into an agreement with the county auditor that specifies the responsibilities of both parties.[ 2011 c 10 § 83; 1991 c 349 § 15.]NOTES:Notice to registered poll voters—Elections by mail—2011 c 10: See note following RCW 29A.04.008.
WA Rev Code § 85.38.127 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.127 - Elections—Special flood control districts—Qualified voters.

RCW 85.38.127 Elections—Special flood control districts—Qualified voters.All registered voters within a special flood control district consisting of three or more counties are qualified voters in special flood control district elections.[ 2009 c 144 § 2.]
WA Rev Code § 85.38.140 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.140 - Special district financing—Alternative method.

RCW 85.38.140 Special district financing—Alternative method.The process by which budgets are adopted, special assessments are measured and imposed, rates and charges are fixed, and assessment zones are established, as provided in RCW 85.38.140 through 85.38.170, shall constitute an alternative optional method of financing special districts. A special district in existence prior to July 28, 1985, may conform with RCW 85.38.140 through 85.38.170 when its governing body adopts a resolution indicating its intention to conform with such laws. Whenever such a resolution is adopted, or a new special district is created on or after July 28, 1985, RCW 85.38.140 through 85.38.170 shall be the exclusive method by which the special district measures and imposes special assessments and adopts its budget. The governing body of a special district that was created before July 28, 1985, and which operates under RCW 85.38.140 through 85.38.170, may adopt a resolution removing the special district from operating under RCW 85.38.140 through 85.38.170, and operate under alternative procedures available to the special district. A county may charge a special district for costs the county incurs in establishing a system or systems of assessment for the special district pursuant to RCW 85.38.140 through 85.38.170.[ 1993 c 464 § 3; 1985 c 396 § 15.]
WA Rev Code § 85.38.145 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.145 - Rates and charges.

RCW 85.38.145 Rates and charges.Regardless of whether any special assessments have been or may be imposed on a particular parcel of real property pursuant to this chapter, in order to implement the authority granted under RCW 85.38.180(3), a special district may fix rates and charges payable by owners or occupiers of real estate within the special district. When fixing rates and charges, the district may consider the degree to which activities on a parcel of real property, including on-site septic systems, contribute to the problems that the special district is authorized to address under RCW 85.38.180(3).[ 1993 c 464 § 4.]
WA Rev Code § 85.38.150 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.150 - Special assessments—Valuation—Assessment zones—Criteria for assessments.

RCW 85.38.150 Special assessments—Valuation—Assessment zones—Criteria for assessments.(1) Special district special assessments shall be imposed only on real property within the district that uses or will use the special district's facilities or receives or will receive special benefits from the special district's operations and facilities. Both privately owned and publicly owned real property, including real property owned by the state, is subject to these special assessments. Mobile homes located on real property within a special district shall be considered an improvement to the real property for purposes of imposing special assessments.(2) Special assessments imposed upon real property, other than improvements, shall be a function of the dollar value of benefit or use per acre and the assessment zone in which the real property is located. Special assessments imposed upon an improvement shall be a function of the dollar value of benefit or use assigned to the type or class of improvements and the assessment zone in which the improvement is located.(3) Assessment zones shall be established in which each zone reflects a different relative ratio of benefit or use that the real property within such a zone receives, or will receive, from the special district's operations and facilities. That real property receiving the greatest benefits, or which uses the special district's facilities to the greatest extent, shall be placed into class No. 1 and assigned a value of one hundred percent; that real property receiving the next greatest benefits, or which uses the special district's facilities to the next greatest extent, shall be placed into class No. 2 and assigned a lower percentage value; and so on, extending to the class of least benefits or use. That real property receiving no benefits or use shall be designated "nonbenefit." If all real property in the special district is found to have the same relative ratio of benefit or use, a single assessment zone may be established.(4) Any one or more of the following criteria shall be used in measuring the manifest degrees or ratios of benefit or use: (a) Proximity to the special district's facilities; (b) height above or below dikes and levees; (c) easier accessibility; (d) facility of drainage; (e) minimization of flood or inundation damage; (f) actual flood protection; (g) use of the special district's facilities; and (h) any other criteria established by the county under RCW 85.38.160 that measure manifest degrees of benefit or use from the special district's facilities and operations.(5) Special assessments may be imposed to pay for the construction, repair, and maintenance of special district facilities and for special district operations. Administrative and operational costs of the special district shall be proportionally included in these special assessments.[ 1985 c 396 § 16.]
WA Rev Code § 85.38.165 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.165 - Applicable assessed value.

RCW 85.38.165 Applicable assessed value.(1) Every special district must use the assessed value applicable to forestland, farm and agricultural land, or open space land, under chapter 84.33 or 84.34 RCW, when the land has been designated as such and the assessed value is used as a component in determining the district assessment.(2) If a district uses a fractional amount of assessed value as a component in determining the district assessment, then a fractional amount of the value applicable to forestland, farm and agricultural land, or open space land, under chapter 84.33 or 84.34 RCW, shall be used.[ 2005 c 181 § 1.]
WA Rev Code § 85.38.170 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.170 - Budgets—Special assessments—Notice—Delinquent special assessments—Collection fee.

RCW 85.38.170 Budgets—Special assessments—Notice—Delinquent special assessments—Collection fee.Budgets for each special district shall be adopted, and special assessments imposed, annually for the succeeding calendar year. On or before December 1st of each year, the governing body of the special district shall adopt a resolution approving a budget for the succeeding year and special assessments sufficient to finance the budget. A copy of the resolution and the budget shall be forwarded immediately to the county legislative authority of the county or counties within which the special district is located and to the treasurer of the county or counties in which the special district is located. Special assessments necessary to generate funds for this budget shall be imposed pursuant to the system or systems of assessment established by the county. Special assessments shall be collected by the county treasurer or treasurers within which the special district is located. Notice of the special assessments due may be included on the notice of property taxes due, may be included on a separate notice that is mailed with the notice of property taxes due, or may be sent separately from the notice of property taxes due. Special assessments shall be due at the same time property taxes are due and shall constitute liens on the land or improvements upon which they are imposed. Delinquent special assessments shall be foreclosed in the same manner, and subject to the same time schedules, interest, and penalties as delinquent property taxes. County treasurers may impose a fee for collecting special assessments not to exceed one percent of the dollar value of special assessments collected.[ 1985 c 396 § 18.]
WA Rev Code § 85.38.180 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.180 - Special districts—Powers.

RCW 85.38.180 Special districts—Powers.A special district may:(1) Engage in flood control activities, and investigate, plan, construct, acquire, repair, maintain, and operate improvements, works, projects, and facilities necessary to prevent inundation or flooding from rivers, streams, tidal waters or other waters. Such facilities include dikes, levees, dams, banks, revetments, channels, canals, drainage ditches, tide gates, flood gates, and other works, appliances, machinery, and equipment.(2) Engage in drainage control, stormwater control, and surface water control activities, and investigate, plan, construct, acquire, repair, maintain, and operate improvements, works, projects, and facilities necessary to control and treat stormwater, surface water, and flood water. Such facilities include drains, flood gates, drainage ditches, tide gates, ditches, canals, nonsanitary sewers, pumps, and other works, appliances, machinery, and equipment.(3) Engage in lake or river restoration, aquatic plant control, and water quality enhancement activities.(4) Take actions necessary to protect life and property from inundation or flow of flood waters, stormwaters, or surface waters.(5) Acquire, purchase, condemn by power of eminent domain pursuant to chapters 8.08 and 8.25 RCW, or lease, in its own name, necessary property, property rights, facilities, and equipment.(6) Sell or exchange surplus property, property rights, facilities, and equipment.(7) Accept funds and property by loan, grant, gift, or otherwise from the United States, the state of Washington, or any other public or private source.(8) Hire staff, employees, or services, or use voluntary labor.(9) Sue and be sued.(10) Cooperate with or join the United States, the state of Washington, or any other public or private entity or person for district purposes.(11) Enter into contracts.(12) Exercise any of the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes.[ 2003 c 392 § 1; 1991 c 349 § 17; 1985 c 396 § 19.]
WA Rev Code § 85.38.190 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.190 - Construction of improvements—When public bidding not required—Use of district employees or volunteers.

RCW 85.38.190 Construction of improvements—When public bidding not required—Use of district employees or volunteers.Any proposed improvement or part thereof, not exceeding five thousand dollars in cost, may be constructed by district employees: PROVIDED, That this shall not restrict a special district from using volunteer labor and equipment on improvements, and providing reimbursement for actual expenses.[ 1987 c 298 § 4; 1986 c 278 § 50.]NOTES:Severability—1986 c 278: See note following RCW 36.01.010.
WA Rev Code § 85.38.200 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 85 - Diking and Drainage|Chapter 85.38 - Special District Creation and Operation.|85.38.200 - Annexation of contiguous territory—Procedures.

RCW 85.38.200 Annexation of contiguous territory—Procedures.(1) Territory that is contiguously located to a special district may be annexed by the special district as provided in this section under the petition and election, resolution and election, or direct petition method of annexation.(2) An annexation under the election method may be initiated by the filing of a petition requesting the action that is signed by at least ten owners of property in the area proposed to be annexed or the adoption of a resolution requesting such action by the governing body of the special district. The petitions shall be filed with the governing body of the special district that is requested to annex the territory. An election to authorize an annexation initiated under the petition and election method may be held only if the governing body approves the annexation. An annexation under either election method shall be authorized if the voters of the area proposed to be annexed approve a ballot proposition favoring the annexation by a simple majority vote. The annexation shall be effective when results of an election so favoring the annexation are certified by the county auditor or auditors. The election, notice of the election, and eligibility to vote at the election shall be as provided for the creation of a special district.(3) An annexation under the direct petition method of annexation may be accomplished if the owners of a majority of the acreage proposed to be annexed sign a petition requesting the annexation, and the governing body of the special district approves the annexation. The petition shall be filed with the governing body of the special district. The annexation shall be effective when the governing body approves the annexation.(4) Whenever a special district annexes territory under this section, the exclusive method by which the special district measures and imposes special assessments upon real property within the entire enlarged area shall be as set forth in RCW 85.38.150 through 85.38.170.[ 1986 c 278 § 8.]NOTES:Severability—1986 c 278: See note following RCW 36.01.010.