The treasurer of the county in which is located the office of the district shall be ex officio treasurer of the district, and any county treasurer handling district funds shall be liable upon his or her official bond and to criminal prosecution for malfeasance and misfeasance, or failure to perform any duty as county or district treasurer. The treasurer of each county in which lands of the district are located shall collect and receipt for all assessments levied on lands within his or her county. There shall be deposited with the district treasurer all funds of the district. The district treasurer shall pay out such funds upon warrants issued by the county auditor against the proper funds of the district, except the sums to be paid out of the bond fund for interest and principal payments on bonds: PROVIDED, That in those districts which designate their own treasurer, the treasurer may issue the warrants or any checks when the district is authorized to issue checks. All warrants shall be paid in the order of their issuance. The district treasurer shall report, in writing, on the first Monday in each month to the directors, the amount in each fund, the receipts for the month preceding in each fund, and file the report with the secretary of the board. The secretary shall report to the board, in writing, at the regular meeting in each month, the amount of receipts and expenditures during the preceding month, and file the report in the office of the board.

     The preceding paragraph of this section notwithstanding, the board of directors or board of control of an irrigation district which lies in more than one county and which had assessments in each of two of the preceding three years equal to at least five hundred thousand dollars, or a board of joint control created under chapter 87.80 RCW, may designate some other person having experience in financial or fiscal matters as treasurer of the district. In addition, the board of directors of an irrigation district which lies entirely within one county may designate some other person having experience in financial or fiscal matters as treasurer of the district if the district had assessments, tolls, and miscellaneous collections in each of two of the preceding three years equal to at least two million dollars or if the board has the approval of the county treasurer to designate some other person. If a board designates a treasurer, it shall require a bond with a surety company authorized to do business in the state of Washington in an amount of two hundred fifty thousand dollars conditioned that he or she will faithfully perform the duties of his or her office as treasurer of the district. The premium on the bond shall be paid by the district. The designated treasurer shall collect and receipt for all irrigation district assessments on lands within the district and shall act with the same powers and duties and be under the same restrictions as provided by law for county treasurers acting in matters pertaining to irrigation districts, except the powers, duties, and restrictions in RCW *87.56.110 and 87.56.210 which shall continue to be those of county treasurers.

     In those districts which have designated their own treasurers, the provisions of law pertaining to irrigation districts which require certain acts to be done and which refer to and involve a county treasurer or the office of a county treasurer or the county officers charged with the collection of irrigation district assessments, except RCW *87.56.110 and87.56.210 shall be construed to refer to and involve the designated district treasurer or the office of the designated district treasurer.

     Any claim against the district for which it is liable under existing laws shall be presented to the board as provided in RCW 4.96.020 and upon allowance it shall be attached to a voucher and approved by the chairman and signed by the secretary and directed to the proper official for payment: PROVIDED, That in the event claimant's claim is for crop damage, the claimant in addition to filing his or her claim within the applicable period of limitations within which an action must be commenced and in the manner specified in RCW 4.96.020 must file with the secretary of the district, or in the secretary's absence one of the directors, not less than three days prior to the severance of the crop alleged to be damaged, a written preliminary notice pertaining to the crop alleged to be damaged. Such preliminary notice, so far as claimant is able, shall advise the district; that the claimant has filed a claim or intends to file a claim against the district for alleged crop damage; shall give the name and present residence of the claimant; shall state the cause of the damage to the crop alleged to be damaged and the estimated amount of damage; and shall accurately locate and describe where the crop alleged to be damaged is located. Such preliminary notice may be given by claimant or by anyone acting in his or her behalf and need not be verified. No action may be commenced against an irrigation district for crop damages unless claimant has complied with the provisions of RCW 4.96.020 and also with the preliminary notice requirements of this section.

[1996 c 320 § 18; 1996 c 214 § 1; 1993 c 449 § 12; 1983 c 167 § 218; 1979 c 83 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 367 § 1; 1969 c 89 § 1; 1967 c 164 § 15; 1961 c 276 § 2. Prior: 1937 c 216 § 1, part; 1929 c 185 § 3, part; 1923 c 138 § 13, part; 1921 c 129 § 23, part; 1913 c 165 § 19, part; 1895 c 165 § 22, part; 1889-90 p 690 § 36, part; RRS § 7453, part. Formerly RCW 87.08.030.]

NOTES:

     Reviser's note: *(1) RCW 87.56.110 was repealed by 2004 c 165 § 47.

     (2) This section was amended by 1996 c 214 § 1 and by 1996 c 320 § 18, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).

     Purpose -- Severability -- 1993 c 449: See notes following RCW 4.96.010.

     Liberal construction -- Severability -- 1983 c 167: See RCW 39.46.010 and note following.

     Purpose -- Severability -- 1967 c 164: See notes following RCW 4.96.010.

"County treasurer," "treasurer of the county," defined: RCW 87.03.438, 87.28.005.

Tortious conduct of political subdivisions, municipal corporations and quasi municipal corporations, liability for damages, procedure: Chapter 4.96 RCW.