USA Statutes : washington
Title : Fire protection districts
Chapter : Annexation
RCW 52.04.011Annexation of territory by election method Procedure Indebtedness Election dispensed with, when.(1) A territory adjacent to a fire protection district and not within the boundaries of a city, town, or other fire protection district may be annexed to the fire protection district by petition of fifteen percent of the qualified registered electors residing within the territory proposed to be annexed. Such territory may be located in a county or counties other than the county or counties within which the fire protection district is located. The petition shall be filed with the fire commissioners of the fire protection district and if the fire commissioners concur in the petition they shall file the petition with the county auditor of the county within which the territory is located. If this territory is located in more than one county, the original petition shall be filed with the auditor of the county within which the largest portion of the territory is located, who shall be designated as the lead auditor, and a copy shall be filed with the auditor of each other county within which such territory is located. Within thirty days after the date of the filing of the petition the auditor shall examine the signatures on the petition and certify to the sufficiency or insufficiency of the signatures. If this territory is located in more than one county, the auditor of each other county who receives a copy of the petition shall examine the signatures and certify to the lead auditor the number of valid signatures and the number of registered voters residing in that portion of the territory that is located within the county. The lead auditor shall certify the sufficiency or insufficiency of the signatures.  After the county auditor has certified the sufficiency of the petition, the county legislative authority or authorities, or the boundary review board or boards, of the county or counties in which such territory is located shall consider the proposal under the same basis that a proposed incorporation of a fire protection district is considered, with the same authority to act on the proposal as in a proposed incorporation, as provided under chapter 52.02 RCW. If the proposed annexation is approved by the county legislative authority or boundary review board, the board of fire commissioners shall adopt a resolution requesting the county auditor to call a special election, as specified under *RCW 29.13.020, at which the ballot proposition is to be submitted. No annexation shall occur when the territory proposed to be annexed is located in more than one county unless the county legislative authority or boundary review board of each county approves the proposed annexation.  (2) The county legislative authority or authorities of the county or counties within which such territory is located have the authority and duty to determine on an equitable basis, the amount of any obligation which the territory to be annexed to the district shall assume to place the property owners of the existing district on a fair and equitable relationship with the property owners of the territory to be annexed as a result of the benefits of annexing to a district previously supported by the property owners of the existing district. If a boundary review board has had its jurisdiction invoked on the proposal and approves the proposal, the county legislative authority of the county within which such territory is located may exercise the authority granted in this subsection and require such an assumption of indebtedness. This obligation may be paid to the district in yearly benefit charge installments to be fixed by the county legislative authority. This benefit charge shall be collected with the annual tax levies against the property in the annexed territory until fully paid. The amount of the obligation and the plan of payment established by the county legislative authority shall be described in general terms in the notice of election for annexation and shall be described in the ballot proposition on the proposed annexation that is presented to the voters for their approval or rejection. Such benefit charge shall be limited to an amount not to exceed a total of fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the special election on the proposed annexation shall be held only within the boundaries of the territory proposed to be annexed to the fire protection district.  (3) On the entry of the order of the county legislative authority incorporating the territory into the existing fire protection district, the territory shall become subject to the indebtedness, bonded or otherwise, of the existing district. If the petition is signed by sixty percent of the qualified registered electors residing within the territory proposed to be annexed, and if the board of fire commissioners concur, an election in the territory and a hearing on the petition shall be dispensed with and the county legislative authority shall enter its order incorporating the territory into the existing fire protection district.[1999 c 105 § 1; 1989 c 63 § 8; 1984 c 230 § 22; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 49; 1965 ex.s. c 18 § 1; 1959 c 237 § 3; 1947 c 254 § 5; 1945 c 162 § 2; 1941 c 70 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5654-116a. Formerly RCW 52.08.060.]Notes:*Reviser's note: RCW 29.13.020 was recodified as RCW 29A.04.330 pursuant to 2003 c 111 § 2401, effective July 1, 2004.Severability -- Effective dates and termination dates -- Construction -- 1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043. RCW 52.04.021Annexation by petition method Alternative to election method.The method of annexation provided for in RCW 52.04.031, 52.04.041, and 52.04.051 shall be an alternate method to that specified in RCW 52.04.011.[1984 c 230 § 23; 1965 c 59 § 1. Formerly RCW 52.08.065.] RCW 52.04.031Annexation by petition method Petition Signers Content.A petition for annexation of an area adjacent to a fire district shall be in writing, addressed to and filed with the board of fire commissioners of the district to which annexation is desired. Such territory may be located in a county or counties other than the county or counties within which the fire protection district is located. It must be signed by the owners, according to the records of the county auditor or auditors, of not less than sixty percent of the area of land included in the annexation petition, shall set forth a legal description of the property and shall be accompanied by a plat which outlines the boundaries of the property to be annexed. The petition shall state the financial obligation, if any, to be assumed by the area to be annexed.[1999 c 105 § 2; 1989 c 63 § 9; 1984 c 230 § 24; 1965 c 59 § 2. Formerly RCW 52.08.066.] RCW 52.04.041Annexation by petition method Hearing Notice.If the petition for annexation filed with the board of commissioners complies with the requirements of law, the board may accept the petition, fix a date for public hearing, and publish notice of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the area proposed to be annexed and also post the notice in three public places within the area proposed for annexation. The notice shall specify the time and place of the hearing and invite interested persons to attend. The expense of publication of the notice shall be paid by the district.[1984 c 230 § 25; 1965 c 59 § 3. Formerly RCW 52.08.067.] RCW 52.04.051Annexation by petition method Resolution providing for annexation.After the hearing, the board of fire commissioners shall determine by resolution whether the area shall be annexed. It may annex all or any portion of the proposed area but may not include in the annexation property not described in the petition. The proposed annexation shall be subject to action by the county legislative authority, as provided under RCW 52.04.011, to the same extent as if the annexation were done under the election method of annexation. If the area proposed to be annexed under this procedure is reduced, the annexation shall occur only if the owners of not less than sixty percent of the remaining area have signed the petition. After adoption of the resolution a copy shall be filed with the county legislative authority or authorities within which the territory is located.[1989 c 63 § 10; 1984 c 230 § 26; 1965 c 59 § 4. Formerly RCW 52.08.068.] RCW 52.04.061Annexation of adjacent city or town Procedure.A city or town lying adjacent to a fire protection district may be annexed to such district if at the time of the initiation of annexation the population of the city or town is 100,000 or less. The legislative authority of the city or town may initiate annexation by the adoption of an ordinance stating an intent to join the fire protection district and finding that the public interest will be served thereby. If the board of fire commissioners of the fire protection district shall concur in the annexation, notification thereof shall be transmitted to the legislative authority or authorities of the counties in which the city or town and the district are situated.[1999 c 105 § 3; 1985 c 313 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 179 § 1. Formerly RCW 52.04.170.] RCW 52.04.071Annexation of adjacent city or town Election.The county legislative authority or authorities shall by resolution call a special election to be held in the city or town and in the fire protection district at the next date provided in *RCW 29.13.010 but not less than forty-five days from the date of the declaration of the finding, and shall cause notice of the election to be given as provided for in *RCW 29.27.080.  The election on the annexation of the city or town into the fire protection district shall be conducted by the auditor of the county or counties in which the city or town and the fire protection district are located in accordance with the general election laws of the state. The results thereof shall be canvassed by the canvassing board of the county or counties. No person is entitled to vote at the election unless he or she is a qualified elector in the city or town or unless he or she is a qualified elector within the boundaries of the fire protection district. The ballot proposition shall be in substantially the following form:   "Shall the city or town of . . . . . . be annexed to and be a part of . . . . . . fire protection district?   YES. . . . . . . . . .   NO . . . . . . . . . . "   If a majority of the persons voting on the proposition in the city or town and a majority of the persons voting on the proposition in the fire protection district vote in favor thereof, the city or town shall be annexed and shall be a part of the fire protection district.[1984 c 230 § 16; 1979 ex.s. c 179 § 2. Formerly RCW 52.04.180.]Notes:*Reviser's note: RCW 29.13.010 and 29.27.080 were recodified as RCW 29A.04.320 and 29A.52.350, respectively, pursuant to 2003 c 111 § 2401, effective July 1, 2004. RCW 29A.04.320 and 29A.52.350 were subsequently repealed by 2004 c 271 § 193. Later enactment of RCW 29A.04.320 and 29A.52.350, see RCW 29A.04.321 and 29A.52.351, respectively.Elections: Title 29A RCW. RCW 52.04.081Annexation of adjacent city or town Annual tax levies Limitations.The annual tax levies authorized by chapter 52.16 RCW shall be imposed throughout the fire protection district, including any city or town annexed thereto. Any city or town annexed to a fire protection district is entitled to levy up to three dollars and sixty cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation less any regular levy made by the fire protection district or by a library district under RCW 27.12.390 in the incorporated area: PROVIDED, That the limitations upon regular property taxes imposed by chapter 84.55 RCW apply.[1984 c 230 § 17; 1979 ex.s. c 179 § 4. Formerly RCW 52.04.190.] RCW 52.04.101Withdrawal by annexed city or town Election.The legislative body of such a city or town which has annexed to such a fire protection district, may, by resolution, present to the voters of such city or town a proposition to withdraw from said fire protection district at any general election held at least three years following the annexation to the fire protection district. If the voters approve such a proposition to withdraw from said fire protection district, the city or town shall have a vested right in the capital assets of the district proportionate to the taxes levied within the corporate boundaries of the city or town and utilized by the fire district to acquire such assets.[1979 ex.s. c 179 § 3. Formerly RCW 52.04.200.]