Special Purpose Districts - Table of Contents

In Washington State, special purpose districts are limited purpose local governments separate from city, town, or county governments. Generally, they perform a single function, though some perform more than one. They provide an array of services and facilities including electricity, fire protection, flood control, health, housing, irrigation, parks and recreation, library, water-sewer service, and, more recently, stadiums, convention centers, and entertainment facilities that are not otherwise furnished by city or county governments.

Over the years, the Washington legislature has enabled more than 80 different special purpose districts. The number of special district statutes vary depending on the definition of "special district."

Once thought of as existing only in unincorporated portions of counties, many district statutes allow the inclusion of cities and towns as well. Some districts have provisions for county-wide districts, some are multi-county, and others provide for interlocal cooperation.

The pages below provide an overview of special purpose districts, including information on their formation and dissolution, elections, and lists of existing special purpose districts and types.

Contents

Overview

• What Is a Special Purpose District? – Overview of various definitions of "special purpose district," as well as information about the number of special purpose districts in Washington State.
• Special Purpose Districts Overview (2012) – Chart providing name of district, classification, date of legislation and citation, the purpose of the district, method of formation, governance, funding, and estimated number of existing districts.
• Types of Special Purpose Districts – Includes the types of districts authorized by the state legislature, categorized by general purpose and function.

Organization

• Formation and Dissolution of Special Purpose Districts – Overview of the processes to form or dissolve a special purpose district in Washington State.
• Revenues of Special Purpose Districts – Overview of revenue sources for special purpose districts in Washington State, including property taxes, debt, and other mechanisms.