DISSOLUTION OF DISTRICTS WITHOUT BONDS

RCW 87.52

in effect

RCW 87.52.001 Actions subject to review by boundary review board.

Actions taken under chapter 87.52 RCW may be subject to potential review by a boundary review board under chapter 36.93 RCW. Actions taken under chapter 87.52 RCW may be subject to potential review by a boundary review board under chapter 36.93 RCW.

RCW 87.52.010 Dissolution authorized.

Any irrigation district, organized and existing by virtue of laws of this state, which has no bonded indebtedness outstanding, may be disorganized and its business and affairs liquidated and wound up in the manner hereinafter provided. Any irrigation district, organized and existing by virtue of laws of this state, which has no bonded indebtedness outstanding, may be disorganized and its business and affairs liquidated and wound up in the manner hereinafter provided.

RCW 87.52.015 Petition.

A petition signed by one-third or more holders of title or evidence of title to lands within said district who shall be qualified electors thereof, reciting the fact that said district has no bonded indebtedness and praying that said district be disorganized under the provisions of RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 , shall be delivered to the secretary of the board of directors of said district or to one of the directors thereof. A petition signed by one-third or more holders of title or evidence of title to lands within said district who shall be qualified electors thereof, reciting the fact that said district has no bonded indebtedness and praying that said district be disorganized under the provisions of RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 , shall be delivered to the secretary of the board of directors of said district or to one of the directors thereof.

RCW 87.52.030 Election — Ballots — Qualified electors.

Upon the delivery of said petition the board of directors of said irrigation district shall, at their next succeeding regular monthly meeting, order an election, the date of which election shall be within twenty days from the date of said meeting of the board of directors and which election shall be conducted as other elections of irrigation districts are conducted. At said election the qualified electors of said irrigation district shall cast ballots which shall contain the words "Disorganize, Yes," or "Disorganize, No." No person shall be entitled to vote at any election held under the provisions of RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 unless he or she is a qualified voter under the election laws of the state, and holds title or evidence of title to land in said district. Upon the delivery of said petition the board of directors of said irrigation district shall, at their next succeeding regular monthly meeting, order an election, the date of which election shall be within twenty days from the date of said meeting of the board of directors and which election shall be conducted as other elections of irrigation districts are conducted. At said election the qualified electors of said irrigation district shall cast ballots which shall contain the words "Disorganize, Yes," or "Disorganize, No." No person shall be entitled to vote at any election held under the provisions of RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 unless he or she is a qualified voter under the election laws of the state, and holds title or evidence of title to land in said district.

RCW 87.52.040 Vote required — Petition to court — Notice and publication of hearing — Court order.

If three-fifths of the votes cast at any election under the provisions of RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 shall contain the words "Disorganize, Yes," then the board of directors shall present to the superior judge of the county in which said irrigation district is located an application for an order of said superior court that such irrigation district be declared disorganized and dissolved, and that its affairs be liquidated and wound up, as provided for in RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 , and reciting that at an election of such irrigation district, held as provided in RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 , three-fifths of the votes cast contained the words "Disorganize, Yes," and such petition shall be certified to by the directors of said district. They shall also file with said superior court a statement, sworn to by the directors of said irrigation district, showing all outstanding indebtedness of said irrigation district, or if there be no such indebtedness, then the directors shall make oath to that effect. Notice of said application shall be given by the clerk, which notice shall set forth the nature of the application, and shall specify the time and place at which it is to be heard, and shall be published in a newspaper of the county printed and published nearest to said irrigation district, once each week for four weeks, or if no newspaper is published in the county, by publication in the newspaper nearest thereto in the state. At the time and place appointed in the notice, or at any other time to which it may be postponed by the judge, he or she shall proceed to consider the application, and if satisfied that the provisions of RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 have been complied with he or she shall enter an order declaring said irrigation district dissolved and disorganized. If three-fifths of the votes cast at any election under the provisions of RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 shall contain the words "Disorganize, Yes," then the board of directors shall present to the superior judge of the county in which said irrigation district is located an application for an order of said superior court that such irrigation district be declared disorganized and dissolved, and that its affairs be liquidated and wound up, as provided for in RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 , and reciting that at an election of such irrigation district, held as provided in RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 , three-fifths of the votes cast contained the words "Disorganize, Yes," and such petition shall be certified to by the directors of said district. They shall also file with said superior court a statement, sworn to by the directors of said irrigation district, showing all outstanding indebtedness of said irrigation district, or if there be no such indebtedness, then the directors shall make oath to that effect. Notice of said application shall be given by the clerk, which notice shall set forth the nature of the application, and shall specify the time and place at which it is to be heard, and shall be published in a newspaper of the county printed and published nearest to said irrigation district, once each week for four weeks, or if no newspaper is published in the county, by publication in the newspaper nearest thereto in the state. At the time and place appointed in the notice, or at any other time to which it may be postponed by the judge, he or she shall proceed to consider the application, and if satisfied that the provisions of RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 have been complied with he or she shall enter an order declaring said irrigation district dissolved and disorganized.

RCW 87.52.060 Board of directors as trustees — Duties — Records to be delivered to clerk.

Upon the disorganization of any irrigation district under the provisions of RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 , the board of directors at the time of the disorganization shall be trustees of the creditors and of the property holders of said district for the purpose of collecting and paying all indebtedness of said district, in which actual construction work has been done, and shall have the power to sue and be sued. It shall be the duty of said board of directors, and they shall have the power and authority, to levy and collect a tax sufficient to pay all such indebtedness, which tax shall be levied and collected in the manner prescribed by law for the levying and collection of taxes of irrigation districts. Any balance of moneys of said district remaining over after all outstanding indebtedness and the cost of the proceedings under RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 have been paid shall be divided and refunded to the assessment payers in said irrigation district, to each in proportion to the amount contributed by him or her to the total amount of assessments collected by said district. Said board of directors shall report to the court from time to time as the court may direct, and upon a showing to the court that all indebtedness has been paid, an order shall be entered discharging said board of directors. Upon the entry of such order said board of directors and all the officers of said district shall deliver over to the clerk of said court all books, papers, records, and documents belonging to said district, or under their control as officers thereof: PROVIDED, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to validate or authorize the payment of any indebtedness of said district exceeding the legal limitation of indebtedness specified by law for irrigation districts; or any indebtedness contracted by such irrigation district or its officers without lawful authority. Upon the disorganization of any irrigation district under the provisions of RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 , the board of directors at the time of the disorganization shall be trustees of the creditors and of the property holders of said district for the purpose of collecting and paying all indebtedness of said district, in which actual construction work has been done, and shall have the power to sue and be sued. It shall be the duty of said board of directors, and they shall have the power and authority, to levy and collect a tax sufficient to pay all such indebtedness, which tax shall be levied and collected in the manner prescribed by law for the levying and collection of taxes of irrigation districts. Any balance of moneys of said district remaining over after all outstanding indebtedness and the cost of the proceedings under RCW 87.52.010 through 87.52.060 have been paid shall be divided and refunded to the assessment payers in said irrigation district, to each in proportion to the amount contributed by him or her to the total amount of assessments collected by said district. Said board of directors shall report to the court from time to time as the court may direct, and upon a showing to the court that all indebtedness has been paid, an order shall be entered discharging said board of directors. Upon the entry of such order said board of directors and all the officers of said district shall deliver over to the clerk of said court all books, papers, records, and documents belonging to said district, or under their control as officers thereof: PROVIDED, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to validate or authorize the payment of any indebtedness of said district exceeding the legal limitation of indebtedness specified by law for irrigation districts; or any indebtedness contracted by such irrigation district or its officers without lawful authority.

RCW 87.52.070 Dissolution when not brought under irrigation for twenty years.

Any irrigation district of the state of Washington, now existing or hereafter organized, which has no bonded indebtedness outstanding, and which has been in existence for more than twenty years without having secured the irrigation of any of its lands, may be disorganized and its business and affairs liquidated and wound up in the manner hereinafter provided. Any irrigation district of the state of Washington, now existing or hereafter organized, which has no bonded indebtedness outstanding, and which has been in existence for more than twenty years without having secured the irrigation of any of its lands, may be disorganized and its business and affairs liquidated and wound up in the manner hereinafter provided.

RCW 87.52.080 Petition.

A petition signed by twenty-five or more holders of title or evidence of title to lands within said district who shall be qualified electors, reciting the fact that said district has no bonded indebtedness, has been in existence for more than twenty years, and has secured no irrigation for any of its lands, and praying that said district be disorganized under the provisions of RCW 87.52.070 through 87.52.090 , shall be delivered to the secretary of the board of directors of said district or to one of the directors thereof. A petition signed by twenty-five or more holders of title or evidence of title to lands within said district who shall be qualified electors, reciting the fact that said district has no bonded indebtedness, has been in existence for more than twenty years, and has secured no irrigation for any of its lands, and praying that said district be disorganized under the provisions of RCW 87.52.070 through 87.52.090 , shall be delivered to the secretary of the board of directors of said district or to one of the directors thereof.

RCW 87.52.090 Election — Procedure when three-fifths vote for disorganization.

Upon the delivery of said petition, as aforesaid, the board of directors of said district, the secretary thereof, and all other officials provided by law, shall call, notice, conduct and canvass an election, and if three-fifths of the votes cast at said election are in favor of the disorganization of the district, shall proceed with the disorganization of the district, all in the manner, with the same powers and with the same force and effect and in accordance with RCW 87.52.030 through 87.52.060 . Upon the delivery of said petition, as aforesaid, the board of directors of said district, the secretary thereof, and all other officials provided by law, shall call, notice, conduct and canvass an election, and if three-fifths of the votes cast at said election are in favor of the disorganization of the district, shall proceed with the disorganization of the district, all in the manner, with the same powers and with the same force and effect and in accordance with RCW 87.52.030 through 87.52.060 .

Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=87.52&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026