REORGANIZATION OF DISTRICTS INTO IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS — 1917 ACT

RCW 85.20
in effect

RCW 85.20.010 Reorganization authorized.

Any drainage district or diking district organized under the provisions of chapter 115 or chapter 117 of the Laws of 1895, and the acts amendatory thereof, may be reorganized as a drainage improvement district or a diking improvement district, upon proceedings had in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Any drainage district or diking district organized under the provisions of chapter 115 or chapter 117 of the Laws of 1895, and the acts amendatory thereof, may be reorganized as a drainage improvement district or a diking improvement district, upon proceedings had in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

RCW 85.20.020 Petition to reorganize — Contents.

For the purpose of securing such reorganization, a petition shall be presented to the clerk of the board of county commissioners of the county in which such district is located, at a regular or special meeting of the board. The petition shall be signed by the board of commissioners of the district and shall state the number of the district seeking to reorganize, and shall pray that such district be reorganized as a drainage or a diking improvement district. For the purpose of securing such reorganization, a petition shall be presented to the clerk of the board of county commissioners of the county in which such district is located, at a regular or special meeting of the board. The petition shall be signed by the board of commissioners of the district and shall state the number of the district seeking to reorganize, and shall pray that such district be reorganized as a drainage or a diking improvement district.

RCW 85.20.030 Elections — Notice — Publication — Costs.

Whenever a petition is presented as provided in RCW 85.20.020 , the county legislative authority shall order an election to be held to determine if the district shall be reorganized. The county legislative authority shall specify the election date which may or may not be at the normal special district general election. Notice of the election shall be posted and published, and the election shall be conducted, as for any special district election. The notice shall state the number of the district so petitioning to reorganize, the place where and the time when the election is to be held. The auditor shall certify the results of the election to the county legislative authority. If the proposition to reorganize the district is approved by a simple majority vote of the voters voting on the proposition, the district shall be reorganized as either a diking improvement district or drainage improvement district upon the county legislative authority ordering the reorganization. The district shall be liable to the county for its costs incurred for the election. Whenever a petition is presented as provided in RCW 85.20.020 , the county legislative authority shall order an election to be held to determine if the district shall be reorganized. The county legislative authority shall specify the election date which may or may not be at the normal special district general election. Notice of the election shall be posted and published, and the election shall be conducted, as for any special district election. The notice shall state the number of the district so petitioning to reorganize, the place where and the time when the election is to be held. The auditor shall certify the results of the election to the county legislative authority. If the proposition to reorganize the district is approved by a simple majority vote of the voters voting on the proposition, the district shall be reorganized as either a diking improvement district or drainage improvement district upon the county legislative authority ordering the reorganization. The district shall be liable to the county for its costs incurred for the election.

RCW 85.20.050 Reorganized district — Board — Indebtedness not affected.

The board of commissioners of the drainage or diking district shall constitute the board of supervisors of the reorganized district. From the entry of an order under RCW 85.20.030 reorganizing the district, such reorganized district, and its board of supervisors, shall have all the rights and powers of and be subject to all laws applicable to a diking or drainage improvement district, and such district so reorganized shall be dissolved without any further proceedings therefor. Notwithstanding such dissolution and reorganization, none of the outstanding bonds, warrants or other indebtedness of the district, shall be affected thereby; and all lands liable to be assessed to pay any of such bonds, warrants or other indebtedness shall remain liable to the same extent as if such reorganization had not been made, and any and all assessments theretofore levied or made against any such lands shall be and remain unimpaired and shall be collected in the same manner as if no such reorganization had been had. The legislative authority of the county in which such reorganized district is situated shall have all the powers possessed at the time of the reorganization by the board of commissioners of such district to levy, assess, and cause to be collected any and all assessments or charges against any of the lands within such district that may be necessary or required to provide funds for the payment of all the bonds, warrants and other indebtedness thereof. The board of commissioners of the drainage or diking district shall constitute the board of supervisors of the reorganized district. From the entry of an order under RCW 85.20.030 reorganizing the district, such reorganized district, and its board of supervisors, shall have all the rights and powers of and be subject to all laws applicable to a diking or drainage improvement district, and such district so reorganized shall be dissolved without any further proceedings therefor. Notwithstanding such dissolution and reorganization, none of the outstanding bonds, warrants or other indebtedness of the district, shall be affected thereby; and all lands liable to be assessed to pay any of such bonds, warrants or other indebtedness shall remain liable to the same extent as if such reorganization had not been made, and any and all assessments theretofore levied or made against any such lands shall be and remain unimpaired and shall be collected in the same manner as if no such reorganization had been had. The legislative authority of the county in which such reorganized district is situated shall have all the powers possessed at the time of the reorganization by the board of commissioners of such district to levy, assess, and cause to be collected any and all assessments or charges against any of the lands within such district that may be necessary or required to provide funds for the payment of all the bonds, warrants and other indebtedness thereof.

RCW 85.20.070 Refunding bonds.

Whenever in any district reorganized under the provisions of this chapter any bonds issued prior to such reorganization shall become payable and the county legislative authority determines that it is in the interest of the property owners of the district to have refunding bonds issued, the county legislative authority may authorize the district to issue refunding bonds in accordance with chapter 85.38 RCW. Whenever in any district reorganized under the provisions of this chapter any bonds issued prior to such reorganization shall become payable and the county legislative authority determines that it is in the interest of the property owners of the district to have refunding bonds issued, the county legislative authority may authorize the district to issue refunding bonds in accordance with chapter 85.38 RCW.

RCW 85.20.120 Sale and issuance of refunding bonds.

Upon the expiration of thirty days from the first publication of the notice given by the treasurer as provided herein, the county legislative authority of the county in which all or the major part of the district is located may issue and sell refunding bonds of the district subject to chapter 85.38 RCW. Upon the expiration of thirty days from the first publication of the notice given by the treasurer as provided herein, the county legislative authority of the county in which all or the major part of the district is located may issue and sell refunding bonds of the district subject to chapter 85.38 RCW.

RCW 85.20.140 Powers of board.

The board of county commissioners shall have all the powers possessed by the board of commissioners of any district reorganized under the provisions of this chapter prior to such reorganization, to levy assessments for the payment of the interest on any other bonds of the district not then payable and refunded under the provisions of this chapter, and to levy assessments to provide a sinking fund for the liquidation of such bonds at their maturity. Such assessments shall be called and collected in the manner provided by the law under which they were assessed, and such bonds shall be paid as provided by the law under which they were issued. Proper funds shall be established in the county treasury for the proceeds of the payments of such assessments, and such funds shall be applied to the payment of the bonds for the payment of which they were levied. The board of county commissioners shall have all the powers possessed by the board of commissioners of any district reorganized under the provisions of this chapter prior to such reorganization, to levy assessments for the payment of the interest on any other bonds of the district not then payable and refunded under the provisions of this chapter, and to levy assessments to provide a sinking fund for the liquidation of such bonds at their maturity. Such assessments shall be called and collected in the manner provided by the law under which they were assessed, and such bonds shall be paid as provided by the law under which they were issued. Proper funds shall be established in the county treasury for the proceeds of the payments of such assessments, and such funds shall be applied to the payment of the bonds for the payment of which they were levied.

RCW 85.20.150 Extensions to compensate for inadequate benefits — Payment.

Whenever in any district reorganized under the provisions of this chapter, extensions or additions are made to the system of improvements of the district to provide drainage or protection from overflow for lands previously found benefited and assessed for the construction of the original system of improvement which are not receiving benefits therefrom in proportion to the benefits found and the assessments levied against such lands, the costs of such extensions or additions shall be included as a cost of maintenance of the improvements of the district and shall be levied and collected in the manner provided for the levy and collection of such costs. Whenever in any district reorganized under the provisions of this chapter, extensions or additions are made to the system of improvements of the district to provide drainage or protection from overflow for lands previously found benefited and assessed for the construction of the original system of improvement which are not receiving benefits therefrom in proportion to the benefits found and the assessments levied against such lands, the costs of such extensions or additions shall be included as a cost of maintenance of the improvements of the district and shall be levied and collected in the manner provided for the levy and collection of such costs.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=85.20&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026