Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1973 NO. 18 >

(1) No county of any class may donate a portion of its federal revenue sharing entitlement under Public Law 92-512 (the state and local fiscal assistance act of 1972) to a private nonprofit senior citizens' center. (2) A county not operating under a home rule charter may not donate a portion of its entitlement under this federal act to a fire protection district for the purchase of an ambulance by such district.

AGO 1988 NO. 21 >

A city may not, solely on the basis of recognizing a moral obligation, reimburse another party to a lawsuit for costs and attorney fees, where the court has determined that the city has no legal liability for the fees and costs in question.

AGLO 1982 NO. 21 >

If a member of the executive board of a joint operating agency who has been selected from its board of directors is subsequently removed from the board of directors due to retirement, recall, attrition, or other reason, that person may no longer remain as a member of the executive board in an inside director position.

AGO 1984 NO. 28 >

(1) Under the provisions of chapter 19.28 RCW, regulating the installation of electrical wiring and equipment, cities and towns are authorized to enact electrical code ordinances establishing equal, higher or better standards than set forth in the state law; and, where a city or town has, in fact, done so the inspection functions and responsibilities then pass from the state to the city or town itself.(2) A local, municipal, electrical code so adopted by a city or town is applicable to the installation of electrical wiring and equipment involved in the construction of new buildings by state agencies within the particular city; and the city may impose its prescribed electrical inspection and permit fees in connection with the construction of such state facilities.

AGO 1963 NO. 38 >

Under the laws of the state of Washington there is no authority by which territory presently within the boundaries of the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle may be withdrawn from the municipality.

AGO 1961 NO. 41 >

A county, public utility district, fire protection district or other municipal corporation may not establish a policy by ordinance or resolution arbitrarily allowing a five percent preferential to local bidders.

AGO 1951 NO. 58 >

There being no need to secure an actuary's report on the condition of the city's firemen's pension fund unless its condition appears to show no need for the mandatory levy of one mill; there would be no occasion to incur such expense of the report, hence your question would not arise.

AGO 1955 NO. 61 >

A municipal corporation is insured only up to an aggregate amount not in excess of $10,000.00 on all non-statutory [[nonstatutory]] funds deposited in one savings and loan association, unless more than one officer of the corporation is authorized to have custody of and deposit its funds.

AGO 1953 NO. 73 >

Municipal corporations cannot legally reimburse an officer for expenses incurred while attending a national convention outside the state.

AGO 1966 NO. 88 >

Where a municipal corporation leases its grounds and buildings to a private club which discriminates in its choice of members on the basis of race, the courts have indicated that the question of whether or not there is a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution will depend upon all of the facts and circumstances of a particular case.