Title 36 — Title 36 COUNTIES

Whenever the county legislative authority of a county with a population of one hundred twenty-five thousand or more deems it for the interest of the county to construct or to aid the United States in constructing a canal to connect any bodies of water within the county, such coun…

Any county with a population of two hundred ten thousand or more may contract with any city or cities within such county for the financing, erection, ownership, use, lease, operation, control or maintenance of any building or buildings, including open spaces, off-street parking f…

The boards of county commissioners of any county and any counties contiguous thereto and the governing body of any cities and/or towns within said counties may establish and organize a regional agency hereinafter referred to as a conference, for the purpose of studying regional a…

The governing bodies of the counties and cities so associated in a conference shall adopt articles of association and bylaws, select a chair and such other officers as they may determine, and may employ and discharge such agents and employees as the officers deem convenient to ca…

The conference is authorized to contract generally and to enter into any contract with the federal government, the state, any municipal corporation and/or other governmental agency for the purpose of conducting the study of regional problems of mutual concern, and shall have the …

The formation of the conference is hereby declared to be a public purpose, and any municipal corporation may contribute to the expenses of such conference pursuant to the budgetary laws of the municipal corporations and such bylaws as may be adopted by the conference: PROVIDED, T…

It is the intent of the legislature in enacting this chapter to provide for the implementation and clarification of Article XI, section 16 of the state Constitution, which authorizes the formation of combined city and county municipal corporations."City-county," as used in this c…

Recognizing the paramount duty of the state to provide for the common schools under Article IX, sections 1 and 2 of the state Constitution, school districts shall be retained as separate political subdivisions within the city-county.[ 1984 c 91 s 2.]

A county, city, or city-county shall not levy a tax on net income.[ 1984 c 91 s 3.]

The method of allocating state revenues shall not be modified for a period of one year from the date the initial officers of the city-county assume office. During the one-year period, state revenue shares shall be calculated as if the preexisting county, cities, and special purpo…

Subject to the requirements of RCW * 41.56.300 and 41.58.070, if the city-county government includes a fire protection or law enforcement unit that was, prior to the formation of the city-county, governed by a state statute providing for binding arbitration in collective bargaini…

The formation of a city-county shall not have the effect of reducing, restricting, or limiting retirement or disability benefits of any person employed by or retired from a municipal corporation, or who had a vested right in any state or local retirement system, prior to the form…

A county may contract indebtedness for general county purposes subject to the limitations on indebtedness provided for in RCW 39.36.020(2). Bonds evidencing such indebtedness shall be issued and sold in accordance with chapter 39.46 RCW.[ 1984 c 186 s 27; 1971 c 76 s 1; 1970 ex.s…

Bonds issued under this chapter shall be retired by an annual tax levy and by any other moneys lawfully available and pledged therefor.[ 1984 c 186 s 28; 1983 c 167 s 77; 1975 1st ex.s. c 188 s 1; 1963 c 4 s 36.67.060. Prior: (i) 1890 p 39 s 6; RRS s 5580. (ii) 1890 p 39 s 7; RRS…

Any coupons for the payment of interest on the bonds shall be considered for all purposes as warrants drawn upon the current expense fund of the county issuing bonds, and if when presented to the treasurer of the county no funds are in the treasury to pay them, the treasurer shal…

As used in RCW 36.67.500 through 36.67.570 "this chapter" means RCW 36.67.510 through 36.67.570.[ 1965 c 142 s 8.]

The county legislative authority of any county is hereby authorized for the purpose of carrying out the lawful powers granted to the counties by the laws of the state to contract indebtedness and to issue revenue bonds evidencing such indebtedness in conformity with this chapter.…

All such revenue bonds authorized under the terms of this chapter may be issued and sold by the counties from time to time and in such amounts as is deemed necessary by the legislative authority of each county to provide sufficient funds for the carrying out of all county powers,…

(1) When revenue bonds are issued for authorized purposes, said bonds shall be either registered as to principal only or as to principal and interest as provided in RCW 39.46.030, or shall be bearer bonds; shall be in such denominations, shall be numbered, shall bear such date, s…

Bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be payable solely out of the operating revenues of the county. Such bonds shall be authorized by resolution adopted by the county legislative authority, which resolution shall create a special fund or funds into which the co…

The board of county commissioners may provide covenants as it may deem necessary to secure the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds and may, but shall not be required to, include covenants to create a reserve fund or account and to authorize the payment or depos…

(1) The county legislative authority of any county may by resolution, from time to time, provide for the issuance of funding or refunding revenue bonds to fund or refund any outstanding revenue bonds and any interest and premiums due thereon at or before the maturity of such bond…

This chapter shall be complete authority for the issuance of the revenue bonds hereby authorized, and shall be liberally construed to accomplish its purposes. Any restrictions, limitations or regulations relative to the issuance of such revenue bonds contained in any other act sh…

Counties may establish park and playground systems for public recreational purposes and for such purposes shall have the power to acquire lands, buildings and other facilities by gift, purchase, lease, devise, bequest and condemnation. A county may lease or sell any park property…

Counties may conduct programs of public recreation, and in any such program property or facilities owned by any individual, group or organization, whether public or private, may be utilized by consent of the owner.[ 1963 c 4 s 36.68.020. Prior: 1949 c 94 s 2; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 39…

Each county may form a county park and recreation board composed of seven members, who shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners to serve without compensation.[ 1969 ex.s. c 176 s 93; 1963 c 4 s 36.68.030. Prior: 1949 c 94 s 3; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 3991-16.]

For the appointive positions on the county park and recreation board the initial terms shall be two years for two positions, four years for two positions, and six years for the remaining positions plus the period in each instance to the next following June 30th; thereafter the te…

Any appointed county park and recreation board member may be removed by a majority vote of the board of county commissioners either for cause or upon the joint written recommendation of five members of the county park and recreation board. Vacancies on the county park and recreat…

The county park and recreation board:(1) Shall elect its officers, including a chair, vice chair and secretary, and such other officers as it may determine it requires.(2) Shall hold regular public meetings at least monthly.(3) Shall adopt rules for transaction of business and sh…

In counties in which county park and recreation boards are formed, a county park and recreation fund shall be established. Into this fund shall be placed the allocation as the board of county commissioners annually appropriates thereto, together with miscellaneous revenues derive…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, any person violating any rules or regulations adopted by the board of county commissioners relating to parks, playgrounds, or other recreational facilities is guilty of a misdemeanor.(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsec…

Any county, acting through its board of county commissioners, is empowered to build, construct, care for, control, supervise, improve, operate and maintain parks, playgrounds, gymnasiums, swimming pools, field houses, bathing beaches, stadiums, golf courses, automobile racetracks…

See RCW 53.08.310 and 53.08.320.

A county, acting through its county legislative authority, is authorized to permit the location of public libraries on land owned by the county that is used for park and recreation purposes, unless a covenant or other binding restriction precludes such uses.[ 1993 c 84 s 1.]

The antidiscrimination provisions of RCW 49.60.500 apply to community athletics programs and facilities operated, conducted, or administered by a park and recreation service area.[ 2009 c 467 s 8.]Notes:Findings—Declaration—2009 c 467: See note following RCW 49.60.500.

Any county shall have the power to create park and recreation service areas for the purpose of financing, acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining, or operating any park, senior citizen activities centers, zoos, aquariums, and recreational facilities as defined in RCW 36.6…

Park and recreation service areas may be initiated in any unincorporated area of any county by resolution adopted by the county legislative authority or by a petition signed by ten percent of the registered voters within the proposed park and recreation service area. Incorporated…

Any resolution or petition initiating a proposed park and recreation service area shall set forth the boundaries of the service area with certainty, describe the purpose or purposes for which the service area is to be formed, and contain an estimate of the initial cost of any cap…

Petitions shall be submitted to the county auditor who shall verify the signatures thereon to determine that the petition has been signed by the requisite number of persons who are registered voters within the proposed service area. If the petition is found not to have the requis…

Upon accepting a petition to form a park and recreation service area, or upon passage of a resolution to establish such a service area, the county legislative authority shall order a full investigation for the purpose or purposes of the proposed service area to determine the feas…

At the hearing, the county legislative authority shall first provide for an explanation of the objectives of the proposed park and recreation service area and the estimated initial costs thereof. The county legislative authority shall permit any resident or property owner of the …

At the conclusion of a hearing, the board of county commissioners shall make the following findings:(1) Whether or not the service area's objectives fit within the general framework of the county's comprehensive park plan and general park policies.(2) The exact boundaries of the …

(1) Upon making findings under the provisions of RCW 36.68.460, the county legislative authority shall, by resolution, order an election of the voters of the proposed park and recreation service area to determine if the service area shall be formed. The county legislative authori…

If the petition or resolution initiating the formation of the proposed park and recreation service area proposes that the initial capital or operational costs are to be financed by regular property tax levies for a six-year period as authorized by RCW 36.68.525, or an annual exce…

In order for the annual excess tax levy proposition or bond retirement levies proposition to be approved, voters exceeding in number at least sixty percent of the number of voters who cast ballots for the office of county legislative authority within the park and recreation area,…

If the formation of the service area is approved by the voters, the county legislative authority shall by resolution declare the service area to be formed and direct the county treasurer to be the treasurer of the service area. Expenditures of the service area shall be made upon …

If the service area is formed, there shall be created in the office of the county treasurer a local service area fund with such accounts as the treasurer may find convenient, or as the state auditor may direct, into which shall be deposited all revenues received by the service ar…

(1) A park and recreation service area shall have the power to levy annual excess levies upon the property included within the service area if authorized at a special election called for the purpose in the manner prescribed by section 2, Article VII of the Constitution and by RCW…

A park and recreation service area may impose regular property tax levies in an amount equal to sixty cents or less per thousand dollars of assessed value of property in the service area in each year for six consecutive years when specifically authorized so to do by a majority of…

In addition to other authority that a park and recreation service area possesses, a park and recreation service area may provide any public improvement as defined under RCW 39.89.020, but this additional authority is limited to participating in the financing of the public improve…