Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1957 NO. 103 >

County commissioners cannot waive their right to collect the ten mill county road levy nor can they delegate their powers and duties with regard to location, construction, and maintenance of roads to any other agency.

AGO 1962 NO. 108 >

The county commissioners of a third class county have the authority under RCW 36.34.180 to lease a portion of the county fair grounds, for a period not exceeding thirty-five years, to a nonprofit rodeo association.

AGO 1960 NO. 109 >

The board of county commissioners does not have legal authority to grant a perpetual franchise over county lands to the Bonneville Power Administration for a power line.

AGO 1951 NO. 122 >

Boards of county commissioners have authority to contract with architects to prepare plans for county hospitals and employment contracts may restrict remuneration to funds procured by special levy voted upon and authorizing the construction of said hospital.

AGO 1962 NO. 124 >

The county commissioners may expend some road funds to pay part but not all the cost of an automobile to be used by a person employed by the county as road inspector and by the sheriff as a deputy sheriff.

AGO 1964 NO. 132 >

(1) A justice of the peace is not authorized to hold court outside his precinct in a county which has not adopted the 1961 justice court act. (2) The board of county commissioners of such a county may appoint a justice of the peace for a precinct which has never previously had a justice of the peace if a vacancy exists in such office. (3) A justice of the peace may be elected and qualified in a rural precinct notwithstanding the fact that it only has five registered voters.

AGO 1962 NO. 159 >

The board of county commissioners and a city council have the authority under chapter 245, Laws of 1961 (chapter 35.77 RCW) to enter into an agreement whereby the county agrees to construct a road within the city at a mutually agreed cost to the city.

AGO 1951 NO. 159 >

A Board of County Commissioners may in its discretion grant an easement over and across tax title lands held in trust by the county under the authority and subject to the limitation contained in chapter 238, Laws of 1947, section 11295-1 Rem. Supp. 1947.

AGO 1958 NO. 163 >

Counties may convey rights of access through property acquired through tax foreclosure to the state for limited access highway facilities.

AGO 1962 NO. 167 >

(1) After the county commissioners have raised the salary of a justice of the peace to $3,600 per year in cities with a population of over 5,000 under RCW 3.16.002, they can thereafter reduce said salary under certain conditions. (2 (a)) The salary of a justice of the peace may not be increased or decreased during his term of office. (2 (b) ‑ 2 (c)) The salary may be increased or decreased at any time prior to the commencement of the term notwithstanding the fact that a filing fee may have been paid on the basis of the existing salary for the office.