Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1954 NO. 366 >

1. County could be held liable for damages resulting from the removal of stop signs deemed unnecessary by county officials. 2. An avoidance of liability for the removal of stop signs will be dependent upon the usual defenses to negligence, no procedure for avoidance of liability can be recommended except the giving of adequate warning to highway users.

AGO 1950 NO. 375 >

A county may not issue bonds for county purposes for the full amount of five per cent and also issue county road bonds for an additional five per cent of the taxable property.

AGO 1950 NO. 401 >

Where the county has not been certified as a local milk inspection service unit, the State Uniform Milk Fluid Act does not deprive the county appeal board of its powers to review degrading orders of the local health officer made in compliance with the local ordinance and not inconsistent with the provisions of the State Act.

AGO 1952 NO. 405 >

County may impose special levy of one‑half mill for civil defense purposes when such levy is submitted to and approved by the county electors in the manner prescribed by constitutional and statutory provisions.

AGO 1951 NO. 415 >

Refunds of forfeited bail from highway traffic violations may be paid out of the county current expense fund.

AGO 1951 NO. 431 >

Counties may not give financial assistance to a private cemetery association for the purpose of expanding the cemetery facilities of such an association.

AGO 1951 NO. 436 >

A county may sell land acquired through tax foreclosure proceedings and issue a deed therefor containing a valid time limitation for the removal of timber on the land sold.

AGO 1952 NO. 437 >

The real estate sales tax applies to the entire selling price of land without deduction for improvements retained by the seller except as that reduces the total price.

AGO 1952 NO. 438 >

A previously executed and separate mortgage has priority over the lien of the real estate excise tax imposed upon a subsequent sale to another than the mortgagee.

AGO 1952 NO. 446 >

The county real estate sales tax is imposed upon the transfer of real property back to industrial development districts for condition of particular use broken pursuant to statute and/or deed.