Title 52 — Title 52 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS
14 chapters · 183 sections in this title.
RCW 52.16.010 County treasurer as financial agent—Designation of some other person as treasurer, when authorized.
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(1) It is the duty of the county treasurer of the county in which all, or the largest portion of, any fire protection district created under this title is located to receive and disburse district revenues, to collect taxes and assessments authorized and levied under this title, a…
RCW 52.16.020 Funds.
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In each county in which a fire protection district is situated, there shall be in the county treasurer's office of each district the following funds: (1) Expense fund; (2) reserve fund; (3) local improvement district No. . . . . fund; (4) general obligation bond fund; and (5) suc…
RCW 52.16.030 Budget for each fund—Biennial budget authority.
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(1) Annually after the county board or boards of equalization of the county or counties in which the district is located have equalized the assessments for general tax purposes in that year, the secretary of the district shall prepare and certify a budget of the requirements of e…
RCW 52.16.040 Tax levies—Assessment roll—Collection.
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At the time of making general tax levies in each year the county legislative authority or authorities of the county or counties in which a fire protection district is located shall make the required levies for district purposes against the real and personal property in the distri…
RCW 52.16.050 Disbursal of funds—Issuance of warrants—Monthly reports.
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(1) Except as provided in subsections (2), (3), and (4) of this section, the county treasurer shall pay out money received for the account of the district on warrants issued by the county auditor against the proper funds of the district. The warrants shall be issued on vouchers a…
RCW 52.16.061 General obligation bonds—Issuance—Limitations.
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The board of fire commissioners of the district shall have authority to contract indebtedness and to refund same for any general district purpose, including expenses of maintenance, operation and administration, and the acquisition of firefighting facilities, and evidence the sam…
RCW 52.16.070 Obligations shall not exceed taxes, revenues, and cash balances—Exceptions.
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Except as authorized by the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds, the creation of local improvements districts, and the issuance of local improvement bonds and warrants of the fire protection district, the board of fire commissioners may not incur expenses or other finan…
RCW 52.16.080 Bonds may be issued for capital purposes—Excess property tax levies.
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Fire protection districts additionally are authorized to incur general indebtedness for capital purposes and to issue general obligation bonds not to exceed an amount, together with any outstanding general obligation indebtedness, equal to three-fourths of one percent of the valu…
RCW 52.16.130 General levy authorized—Limit—Excess levy at special election.
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To carry out the purposes for which fire protection districts are created, the board of fire commissioners of a district may levy each year, in addition to the levy or levies provided in RCW 52.16.080 for the payment of the principal and interest of any outstanding general obliga…
RCW 52.16.140 General levy may exceed limit—When.
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Notwithstanding the limitation of dollar rates contained in RCW 52.16.130, the board of fire commissioners of any district may levy, in addition to any levy for the payment of the principal and interest of outstanding general obligation bonds, an ad valorem tax on all property lo…
RCW 52.16.150 Donations and bequests to district.
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A fire protection district may accept and receive in behalf of the district any money or property donated, devised, or bequeathed to the district, and may carry out the terms of the donation, devise, or bequest, if within the powers granted by law to fire protection districts. In…
RCW 52.16.160 Tax levy authorized.
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Notwithstanding the limitation of dollar rates contained in RCW 52.16.130, and in addition to any levy for the payment of the principal and interest of any outstanding general obligation bonds and in addition to any levy authorized by RCW 52.16.130, 52.16.140 or any other statute…
RCW 52.16.170 Taxation and assessment of lands lying both within a fire protection district and forest protection assessment area.
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In the event that lands lie within both a fire protection district and a forest protection assessment area they shall be taxed and assessed as follows:(1) If the lands are wholly unimproved, they shall be subject to forest protection assessments but not to fire protection distric…
RCW 52.18.010 Benefit charges authorized—Exemptions—Amounts—Limitations—Annual review.
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(1) Pursuant to an approved initial or continued benefit charge authorized under RCW 52.18.050, the board of fire commissioners of a fire protection district may by resolution, for fire protection district purposes authorized by law, fix and impose a benefit charge on personal pr…
RCW 52.18.020 Personal property, improvements to real property—Defined.
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The term "personal property" for the purposes of this chapter shall include every form of tangible personal property, including but not limited to, all goods, chattels, stock in trade, estates, or crops: PROVIDED, That all personal property not assessed and subjected to ad valore…
RCW 52.18.030 Resolution establishing benefit charges—Contents—Listing—Collection.
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The resolution establishing benefit charges as specified in RCW 52.18.010 shall specify, by legal geographical areas or other specific designations, the charge to apply to each property by location, type, or other designation, or other information that is necessary to the proper …
RCW 52.18.040 Reimbursement of county for administration and collection expenses.
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Each fire protection district shall contract, prior to the imposition of a benefit charge, for the administration and collection of the benefit charge by each county treasurer, who shall deduct a percent, as provided by contract to reimburse the county for expenses incurred by th…
RCW 52.18.050 Voter approval of benefit charges required—Election—Ballot.
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(1)(a) The initial imposition of a benefit charge authorized by this chapter must be approved by not less than sixty percent of the voters of the district voting at a general election or at a special election called by the district for that purpose.(b) An election held for the in…
RCW 52.18.060 Public hearing—Required—Report—Benefit charge resolution to be filed—Notification to property owners.
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(1) Not less than ten days nor more than six months before the election at which the proposition to impose the benefit charge is submitted as provided in this chapter, the board of fire commissioners of the district shall hold a public hearing specifically setting forth its propo…
RCW 52.18.065 Property tax limited if benefit charge imposed.
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A fire protection district that imposes a benefit charge under this chapter shall not impose all or part of the property tax authorized under RCW 52.16.160.[ 1990 c 294 s 7; 1987 c 325 s 9.]
RCW 52.18.070 Review board.
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After notice has been given to the property owners of the amount of the charge, the board of fire commissioners of a fire protection district imposing a benefit charge under this chapter shall form a review board for at least a two-week period and shall, upon complaint in writing…
RCW 52.18.080 Model resolution.
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The Washington fire commissioners association, as soon as practicable, shall draft a model resolution to impose the fire protection district benefit charge authorized by this chapter and may provide assistance to fire protection districts in the establishment of a program to deve…
RCW 52.18.090 Exemptions.
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A person who is receiving the exemption contained in RCW 84.36.381 through 84.36.389 shall be exempt from any legal obligation to pay a portion of the charge imposed by this chapter according to the following.(1) A person who meets the income limitation contained in RCW 84.36.381…
RCW 52.20.010 L.I.D.'s authorized—Petition or resolution method.
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If, for fire protection or emergency medical purposes the acquisition, maintenance, and operation of real property, buildings, apparatus, and instrumentalities needed to provide such services are of special benefit to part or all of the lands in the fire protection district, the …
RCW 52.20.020 Dismissal, approval of petition or resolution of intention—Notice of hearing.
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If the petition is found insufficient or if the district board determines that a local improvement district is not feasible or is of no special benefit to the lands concerned, it shall dismiss the petition. If the district board approves the petition or adopts a resolution of int…
RCW 52.20.022 Notice must contain statement that assessments may vary from estimates.
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Any notice given to the public or to the owners of specific lots, tracts, or parcels of land relating to the formation of a local improvement district shall contain a statement that actual assessments may vary from assessment estimates so long as they do not exceed a figure equal…
RCW 52.20.025 Hearing and subsequent proceedings to be in accordance with laws applicable to cities and towns—Definitions.
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The hearing and all subsequent proceedings in connection with the local improvement, including but not limited to the levying, collection, and enforcement of local improvement assessments, and the authorization, issuance, and payment of local improvement bonds and warrants shall …
RCW 52.20.027 Lands subject to forest fire protection assessments exempt—Separation of forest-type lands for tax and assessment purposes.
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RCW 52.20.010, 52.20.020, and 52.20.025 shall not apply to any tracts or parcels of wholly forest-type lands within the district which are required to pay forest fire protection assessments, as required by RCW 76.04.610; however, both the tax levy or special assessments of the di…
RCW 52.20.060 Coupon or registered warrants—Payment—Interest—Registration.
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(1) The district board may also, if in accordance with the adopted method of financing the local improvement district, issue and sell at par and accrued interest coupon or registered warrants payable within three years from the date thereof exclusively from the local improvement …
RCW 52.20.070 Contracts not general district obligations.
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A fire protection district shall not be liable under any contract creating an obligation chargeable against the lands of any local improvement district therein, unless the liability and the extent thereof is specifically stated in the contract.[ 1984 c 230 s 53; 1939 c 34 s 21; R…
RCW 52.22.011 Legislative validation.
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The respective areas, organized and established or attempted to be organized and established under the authority granted in Title 52 RCW which since their organization and establishment or attempted organization and establishment have continuously maintained their organization as…
RCW 52.22.021 Special proceedings for judicial confirmation of organization, bonds, warrants, contracts, etc.
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The board of fire commissioners of a fire protection district now existing or which may be organized under the laws of this state may commence a special proceeding in the superior court of the state of Washington. These proceedings for the organization of the fire district, for t…
RCW 52.22.031 Petition.
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The board of fire commissioners of the fire protection district shall file in the superior court of the county in which the fire protection district was organized, a petition requesting in effect that the proceedings be examined, approved, and confirmed by the court. The petition…
RCW 52.22.041 Hearing date to be fixed—Notice.
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The court shall fix the time for the hearing of the petition and direct the clerk of the court to give notice of the filing of the petition and of the time and place fixed for the hearing. The notice shall state the time and place of the hearing of the petition and that any perso…
RCW 52.22.051 Answer of petition.
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A person interested in the fire protection district, or in a local improvement district therein, involved in the petition or in any proceedings sought by the petition to be examined, approved, and confirmed by the court, may answer the petition. The statutes of this state respect…
RCW 52.22.061 Pleading and practice—Motion for new trial.
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The rules of pleading and practice governing civil actions are applicable to the special proceedings provided for except where inconsistent with this chapter. A motion for a new trial must be made upon the minutes of the court and in case of an order granting a new trial, the ord…
RCW 52.22.071 Jurisdiction of court.
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At the hearing of the special proceedings, the court has power and jurisdiction to examine and determine the legality and validity of, and to approve and confirm, each and all of the proceedings for the organization of the fire protection district and for the formation of any loc…
RCW 52.22.081 Minor irregularities to be disregarded.
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The court has full authority and jurisdiction to consider any question of laches, estoppel, and other infirmities in the position and claims of the defendants, to question the legality of the proceedings sought by the plaintiff to be confirmed by the court, and to pass upon and d…
RCW 52.22.091 Costs.
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The court shall find and determine, in these special proceedings, whether the notice of the filing of the petition and of the time and place of hearing on the petition has been properly posted and published for the time and in the manner prescribed in this chapter. The costs of t…
RCW 52.22.101 Appellate review.
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Appellate review of an order granting or refusing a new trial, or from the judgment, in the special proceedings must be taken by the party aggrieved within thirty days after the entry of the order or the judgment.[ 1988 c 202 s 50; 1984 c 230 s 75; 1947 c 255 s 9; Rem. Supp. 1947…
RCW 52.22.111 Districts governed by Title 52 RCW.
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All fire protection districts are governed by Title 52 RCW.[ 1984 c 230 s 86.]
RCW 52.26.010 Findings.
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The legislature finds that:(1) The ability to respond to emergency situations by many of Washington state's fire protection jurisdictions has not kept up with the state's needs, particularly in urban regions;(2) Providing a fire protection service system requires a shared partner…
RCW 52.26.020 Definitions.
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The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Board" means the governing body of a regional fire protection service authority.(2) "Elected official" means an elected official of a participating fire protection jur…
RCW 52.26.030 Planning committee—Formation—Powers.
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Regional fire protection service authority planning committees are advisory entities that are created, convened, and empowered as follows:(1) Any two or more fire protection jurisdictions located within reasonable proximity may create a regional fire protection service authority …
RCW 52.26.040 Planning committee—Formulation of service plan—Competition with private ambulance service.
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(1) A regional fire protection service authority planning committee shall adopt a regional fire protection service authority plan providing for the governance, design, financing, and development of fire protection and emergency services. The planning committee may consider the fo…
RCW 52.26.050 Service plan—Taxes and benefit charges.
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(1) A regional fire protection service authority planning committee may, as part of a regional fire protection service authority plan, recommend the imposition of some or all of the following revenue sources, which a regional fire protection service authority may impose upon appr…
RCW 52.26.060 Service plan—Submission to voters.
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The governing bodies of two or more fire protection jurisdictions located within reasonable proximity, upon receipt of the regional fire protection service authority plan under RCW 52.26.040, may certify the plan to the ballot, including identification of the revenue options spec…
RCW 52.26.070 Service authority—Formation—Challenges.
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If the voters approve the plan, including creation of a regional fire protection service authority and imposition of taxes and benefit charges, if any, and the election results are certified, the authority is formed on the effective date as set forth in the plan or the next Janua…
RCW 52.26.080 Organization and composition of governing board—Commissioner positions, districts.
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(1) The board shall adopt rules for the conduct of business. The board shall adopt bylaws to govern authority affairs, which may include:(a) The time and place of regular meetings;(b) Rules for calling special meetings;(c) The method of keeping records of proceedings and official…
RCW 52.26.090 Powers of governing board—Designation of some other person as treasurer, when authorized.
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(1) The governing board of the authority is responsible for the execution of the voter-approved plan. Participating jurisdictions shall review the plan every ten years. The board may:(a) Levy taxes and impose benefit charges as authorized in the plan and approved by authority vot…