Senate passes Goehner bill to reduce red tape for water-sewer districts

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Senate approved a bill that seeks to streamline the process for water-sewer districts to sell surplus property, reducing administrative hurdles and increasing efficiency.

Senate Bill 5467, sponsored by Sen. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden, passed overwhelmingly in a 45-1 vote. The measure raises financial thresholds that trigger specific notice requirements and public sale processes when districts dispose of personal or real property.

“This bill allows these junior taxing districts to dispose of surplus property more efficiently,” Goehner said. “It raises the thresholds for which the districts could sell without a more extensive process of public auction or sales.”

Under the legislation, the minimum value at which water-sewer districts must provide a notice of intent before selling personal property would increase from $2,500 to $5,000. Additionally, the bill raises the threshold for privately selling real property from $5,000 to $7,500.

With bipartisan backing, SB 5467 now moves to the state House of Representatives for further consideration.