Sen. Tim Sheldon’s, D-Potlatch, bill about finance processes for large fire districts cleared the Senate on Feb. 2 with a unanimous vote.
According to a news release, Senate Bill 5565 allows larger fire districts with revenues in excess of $10 million to use its own treasurer rather than using the local county or city treasurer. The bill applies to regional fire district authorities in which two or more fire districts share governance.
“This is what we mean when we talk about good-government bills,” said Sheldon in a news release. “As more fire districts join together to form larger regional fire district authorities, the financial-management requirements become immense. This bill takes the burden from county and city treasurers and allows fire districts to do the job themselves.”
Sheldon introduced the bill at the request of Kitsap County fire districts. The measure allows treasurers to issue warrants approved by district boards and secretaries and fire district treasurers also would be allowed to make bond payments and issue reports about the district’s financial status.
The bill moves to the House for further consideration.
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