Other LanguagesThis is written in response to your letter dated March 11, 1971, requesting our advice in regard to a certain matter which is described in a letter written to you on February 2, 1971, by the chief of the fire department of King County Fire District No. 32 ‑ a copy of which you have enclosed.
By letter dated May 17, 1972, you requested an opinion of this office on the following question: "Is it legal for a public utility to give, or sell for a token fee, PUD property to a city for a public park?"
This is written in response to your letter dated March 20, 1970, regarding the matter of the anticipated resignation of the Pend Oreille County superintendent of schools.
By letter dated March 5, 1971, you requested an opinion of this office concerning the legality of the Washington State School Directors' Association entering into a contract with a consultant relative to excess levies by local school districts.
By letter previously acknowledged you have requested the opinion of this office on a question which we paraphrase as follows: May the Department of Agriculture use funds from the grain and hay inspection fund (RCW 22.09.500) to pay the salaries of grain inspectors who during their regular working hours are participating in collective bargaining with the department?
This is written in response to your recent request for our opinion as to the retroactive applicability of the annual two percent pension increases for certain law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and their survivors which were provided for by the 1970 legislature through its enactment of chapter 37, Laws of 1970 (Senate Bill No. 145).
"On the first day of each month the county treasurer shall distribute pro rata, according to the rate of levy for each fund, the amount collected as consolidated tax during the preceding month, and shall certify the same to the county auditor. . . ."
By letter dated May 26, 1972, you have requested the opinion of this office as to whether or not a housing authority may donate its funds to a city within the area of the housing authority's operation, to aid certain of that city's urban renewal projects to be undertaken pursuant to chapter 35.81 RCW.
We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 18, 1970, requesting information with respect to the eligibility of members of the police and fire departments at Washington State University for coverage under the new Washington law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system.
Your first question is whether the term "wage" as defined in RCW 49.46.010 (2), would include ". . . all benefits accruing as a result of a labor contract or an employment contract." We would think not, for the reason that this statutory definition is limited to those forms of compensation for employment services which are ". . . payable in legal tender or equivalent." See, State ex rel. Hagan v. Chinook Hotel, 65 Wn.2d 573, 578, 399 P.2d 8 (1965). The statutory definition which was thus construed reads, itself, as follows: