Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 2003 NO. 2 >

The Citizens’ Commission on Salary for Elected Officials may consider such factors as the state of the economy and the size of the state budget when setting the salaries for state elected officials.

AGO 1955 NO. 4 >

With the exception of gravel taken from the bed of the Columbia River where that river forms the boundary line between the States of Oregon and Washington, the Commissioner of Public Lands of Washington is required to exact cash for all gravel sold from the beds of navigable rivers in the State of Washington.

AGO 2003 NO. 6 >

RCW 38.40.060, which provides fifteen days of military leave for state officers and employees who are subject to military duty, does not apply to elected officials, who are entitled to extended leave for military duty under RCW 73.16.041.

AGO 2000 NO. 6 >

Where a first-class city has amended its charter to create new officer positions, and the charter amendments provide that the initial special election to fill the new positions will occur in conjunction with the state primary and general election in an even-numbered year, RCW 29.13.020 permits the conduct of a city special election under these circumstances.

AGO 1953 NO. 43 >

The Highway Commission may delegate to the Director of Highways those powers and duties which are ministerial, or those upon which the policies have, by reason of rules and regulations of the Commission, become so crystallized that the exercise of the powers has become ministerial.  But the Commission may not delegate those functions, such as the establishment of policies, which are in their nature quasi-judicial.

AGO 1964 NO. 118 >

A city or town may, in a proper case (see in this connection AGO 61-62 No. 71) expend city funds to defend the acts of one or more of its officers in a civil action brought against them for a cause arising out of the performance of their official duties.

AGO 1953 NO. 137 >

City Ordinance No. 348 of the city of Longview, establishing a department of revenue and authorizing the city clerk or other officer to be the head thereof, and fixing additional salary for performing the duties, could not have the effect of increasing the salary of any officer serving a fixed term, until the commencement of a term of his regular office.

AGO 1954 NO. 317 >

1. Where school director's husband is officer of private corporation and holds stock therein for marital community, director has pecuniary interest in contract between corporation and district, and contract is invalid.  2. The size of the interest is immaterial.  3. The fact that the interested public officer does not participate in any official action on the contract is also immaterial; the existence of the interest, rather than participation or its absence, is controlling as to the validity of the contract.

AGO 1952 NO. 335 >

County commissioners of sixth-class counties are entitled to necessary, reasonable traveling expenses as road supervisors in addition to compensation for their services as road supervisors which by chapter 9, Laws Ex. Sess. 1950, RCW 36.32.320, is limited to $1200.00.

AGO 1953 NO. 507 >

It is not illegal for the executive secretary of the Washington State Association of County Commissioners to act as a lobbyist during legislative sessions, notwithstanding the fact that his salary is paid from public funds.