Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 2012 NO. 5 >

1. The word “instrument” in RCW 28A.310.200 is sufficiently broad to authorize educational service districts to issue bonds within the borrowing authority granted by that statute. 2. Educational service districts must pledge as collateral property acquired through the issuance of the bonds authorized by RCW 28A.310.200. 3. RCW 39.46 applies to educational service districts that choose to exercise the authority granted under it. 4. Educational service districts that use the provisions of RCW 39.46 must also comply with compatible educational service district-specific requirements in RCW 28A.310.200. 5. Statutory and constitutional debt limitations do not apply to educational service districts.

AGO 1991 NO. 19 >

1.  Chapter 48.52 RCW authorizes school districts and educational service districts to join together to create a risk management pool pursuant to chapter 39.34 RCW, the Interlocal Cooperation Act.  The risk management pool thus created may take the form of a separate legal or administrative entity.  2. The Interlocal Cooperation Act does not authorize the exercise of any new substantive powers by the public agencies that enter into interlocal cooperation agreements.  Since educational service districts do not have the authority to issue short-term obligations, a separate legal entity created by educational service districts and school districts does not have the authority to issue short-term obligations.

AGLO 1977 NO. 39 >

An educational service district created pursuant to Chapter 28A.21 RCW is a political subdivision within the meaning of RCW 41.56.020, and therefore, the public employees collective bargaining act contained in Chapter 41.56 RCW is applicable to the employees of such a district.