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SUBJECTS › GOVERNANCE › SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS › Dissolution of Special Purpose Districts
Updated 12/06

Dissolution of Special Purpose Districts and Suspended Operations

Contents

Dissolution of Special Purpose Districts

There are several statutes that relate to dissolution procedures for special purpose districts.

  • Chapter 36.96 RCW - Dissolution of inactive special purpose districts - every municipal and quasi-municipal corporation other than counties, cities, and towns. Such special purpose districts shall include, but are not limited to, water-sewer districts, fire protection districts, port districts, public utility districts, county park and recreation service areas, flood control zone districts, diking districts, drainage improvement districts, and solid waste collection districts, but shall not include industrial development districts created by port districts, and shall not include local improvement districts, utility local improvement districts, and road improvement districts;
  • Chapter 53.48 RCW -  Dissolution of port and other districts  - all municipal and quasi-municipal corporations having a governing body, other than cities, towns, counties, and townships, such as port districts, school districts, water-sewer districts, fire protection districts, and all other special districts of similar organization, but shall not include local improvement districts, diking, drainage and irrigation districts, special districts as defined in RCW 85.38.010, nor public utility districts.
  • Chapter 57.90 RCW - Disincorporation of districts in counties with 200,000 population or more and  inactive for five years  
  • There are also dissolution procedures in specific statutes that pertain to individual special districts. Some are listed here.  The majority refer to Ch. 36.96 or Ch. 53.48  for dissolution procedures 

Inactive Districts - Notification of County Legislative Authority

Before June 1st of each year, the county auditor is to search available records and notify the county legislative authority of any special purpose districts in the county that appear to be inactive and those that have failed to file statements for three years with the county auditor (RCW 36.96.090). The county legislative authority holds hearings and makes written findings as to whether the special purpose districts meets the criteria of being "inactive." The county legislative authority adopts an ordinance dissolving the special purpose district and provides a copy of the ordinance to the county treasurer. Public utility districts have a different procedure.

Suspended Operations for Certain Districts

Title 85 provides for suspended operations and reactivation of operations for certain districts.  RCW 85.38.220 states that any special district may have its operations suspended as provided in this section.  Special district is defined in RCW 85.38.010 as (a) A diking district; (b) a drainage district; (c) a diking, drainage, and/or sewerage improvement district; (d) an intercounty diking and drainage district; (e) a consolidated diking district, drainage district, diking improvement district, and/or drainage improvement district; or (f) a flood control district.