Every city having a
population of over three hundred thousand may maintain an
emergency fund, which fund balance shall not exceed thirty-seven
and one-half cents per thousand dollars of assessed value. Such
fund shall be maintained by an annual budget allowance. When the
necessity therefor arises transfers may be made to the emergency
fund from any tax-supported fund except bond interest and
redemption funds.
The city council by an ordinance approved by two-thirds of
all of its members may authorize the expenditure of sufficient
money from the emergency fund, or other designated funds, to meet
the expenses or obligations:
(1) Caused by fire, flood, explosion, storm, earthquake,
epidemic, riot, insurrection, act of God, act of the public enemy
or any other such happening that could not have been anticipated;
or
(2) For the immediate preservation of order or public health
or for the restoration to a condition of usefulness of public
property the usefulness of which has been destroyed by accident;
or
(3) In settlement of approved claims for personal injuries
or property damages, exclusive of claims arising from the
operation of a public utility owned by the city; or
(4) To meet mandatory expenditures required by laws enacted
since the last budget was adopted.
The city council by an ordinance approved by three-fourths
of all its members may appropriate from the emergency fund, or
other designated funds, an amount sufficient to meet the actual
necessary expenditures of the city for which insufficient or no
appropriations have been made due to causes which could not
reasonably have been foreseen at the time of the making of the
budget.
An ordinance authorizing an emergency expenditure shall
become effective immediately upon being approved by the mayor or
upon being passed over his or her veto as provided by the city
charter.
[2009 c 549 § 2066; 1985 c 175 § 64; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 20; 1967 c 7 § 8.]
NOTES:
Severability -- Effective dates -- Construction -- 1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.