De-Annexation of Property from a City – How Does That Happen?

September 12, 2014  by  Bob Meinig
Category:  Annexation

Every once in a while we get asked how property may be “de-annexed” – removed from city boundaries. This rarely occurs, because it's a lot easier in Washington State for property to get annexed to a city than it is for the opposite to occur.

Read more

Update (Correction) on New Laws that Affect City/Town Annexations

June 26, 2014  by  Bob Meinig
Category:  Annexation

In my June 10 blog post, New Laws that Affect City/Town Annexations, I discussed the implications of 2013 legislation, SSB 5444, which amended RCW 84.40.175 to eliminate the requirement that county assessors annually value tax-exempt government-owned properties. I interpreted the practical result of this legislation as being that government-owned property will no longer count towards the 100...

Read more

New Laws that Affect City/Town Annexations

June 10, 2014  by  Bob Meinig
Category:  Annexation

Washington cities and towns should be aware of legislation from 2013 and 2014 affecting notice of annexation and the valuation of publicly owned property.

Read more

Changes to Two Annexation Methods Enacted by 2013 Legislature

July 10, 2013  by  Bob Meinig
Category:  Annexation

The 2013 Legislature has in two separate bills enacted changes to the "unincorporated island" method of annexation, though only as it applies to code cities, and has in one of those bills also enacted changes to the interlocal agreement method of annexation of areas served by a fire district, as it applies to all cities. I'd like to explain what these changes, which are effective on July 28,...

Read more

Cities and Towns: Don't Forget to Notify Your County When You Annex Territory

June 19, 2013  by  Bob Meinig
Category:  Annexation

It's come to my attention that cities and towns sometimes do not notify their county (as well as fire and library districts, where applicable) when they annex territory. Notification to the county treasurer and assessor is required by state law, and lack of notification will prevent some property tax revenues collected from annexed territories from reaching their annexing cities and towns.

Read more