Opinion ID: 524344
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Revenue Fund

Text: 102 Although the district court acknowledged that the Construction Fund language lends itself to exclusivity, it held that PDM could also collect from the Revenue Fund. It relied on the following language from Resolution 890: 103 Section 6.1 Revenue Fund ... all such income, revenues, receipts, profits and other moneys ... shall be used and applied ... for the purpose of paying all other charges or obligations against said revenues, income, receipts, profits and other moneys of whatever nature now or hereafter imposed thereupon by law or contract, to the payment of which for such purposes said revenues, income, receipts, profits and other moneys are hereby pledged. 104 (emphasis added). That conclusion would make the special fund doctrine inapplicable because that doctrine requires payment of the construction costs solely from one fund. We reverse the court's ruling on this issue. 105 Section 6.9, discussing the Construction Fund, states in part: Payment of the Cost of Construction of each Project shall be made from the moneys in the Construction Fund. As discussed earlier, the term shall mandates payment from the Construction Fund. We observe that section 1.1(h) defines Cost of Construction as all costs paid or incurred by [WPPSS] in connection with the planning, acquisition and construction of the Projects, and the costs of Capitalized Fuel, as such costs are defined in Section 6.9 of this Resolution. Section 6.9 includes numerous items within the definition of WPPSS's Cost of Construction for the No. 5 Project. We conclude that the debt owed by WPPSS to PDM falls within the definition of the Cost of Construction. 106 The broad language of Section 6.1 suggests that the Revenue Fund might also cover the cost of construction. In construing Resolution 890, we must view the document as a whole. See WPPSS, 705 P.2d at 1210. We must harmonize seemingly inconsistent language where possible. Grant County Constructors v. E.V. Lane Corp., 77 Wash.2d 110, 459 P.2d 947, 953 (1969). The more reasonable interpretation is preferred. See WPPSS, 705 P.2d at 1209. The specific language of the Construction Fund controls over the more general language of the Revenue Fund. See Washington Local Lodge No. 104 v. International Bhd. of Boilermakers, 28 Wash.2d 536, 183 P.2d 504, 507 (1947) (citing Restatement of Contracts Sec. 236). 107 We conclude that the general language of the Revenue Fund provides a special fund for any claims or obligations not covered by any other special fund. The broad language of the Revenue Fund appears to cover any charge or obligation against WNP-4/5. Yet, this interpretation would invalidate the Revenue Fund as a special fund and other WNP-4/5 special funds. An unrestricted interpretation of the language of the Revenue Fund would provide a second fund for claims payable out of other WNP-4/5 special funds. 108 The only reasonable interpretation available, viewing the document as a whole, requires that the Revenue Fund pay claims or obligations not covered by any other special fund. The parties clearly intended to create several special funds and our construction harmonizes the Revenue Fund language with this intention. 109 AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part and REMANDED.