HomeMy WebLinkAbout051126 email - Moving the Jefferson County West End to one or more other countiesALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Commissioners,
Interesting that this subject came up again this morning. You were correct in that the residents (voters, actually) would have to initiate any such process.
I asked: What is the process for a portion of one county in washington state becoming part of a different county?
Here’s what ChatGPT said:
In Washington State, changing county boundaries is extremely rare and legally complicated. There is a statutory process for certain limited transfers of territory between adjacent counties,
but there is no broad modern procedure for residents to simply vote to move from one county to another.
The governing law is primarily Chapter 36.08 RCW. The process generally works like this:
1. A petition is filed by voters living in the territory proposed to be transferred.
2. The territory must be contiguous to the county it would join.
3. A special election is held in the affected territory.
4. At least three-fifths (60%) of voters in that territory must approve the transfer.
5. The election results are certified.
6. The Governor issues a proclamation officially changing the county line. (FindLaw <https://codes.findlaw.com/wa/title-36-counties/wa-rev-code-36-08-020/?utm_source=chatgpt.com> )
Washington law specifically provides ballots reading:
* “for transferring territory”
* “against transferring territory” (FindLaw <https://codes.findlaw.com/wa/title-36-counties/wa-rev-code-36-08-020/?utm_source=chatgpt.com> )
However, there is a major catch:
The existing statute only applies in a very narrow geographic situation involving harbors, bays, river mouths, and adjacent shoreline territory. The law was historically designed for
waterfront communities whose economic ties were stronger to a neighboring county. (MRSC <https://mrsc.org/explore-topics/planning/annexation/annexation-faqs?utm_source=chatgpt.com>
)
The Washington Constitution also limits the Legislature’s ability to directly redraw county lines through special legislation. Article XI and Article II effectively require any county-line
changes to occur under a general law applicable statewide. (Washington Attorney General <https://www.atg.wa.gov/ago-opinions/counties-boundaries-location-disputed-uncertain-or-ambiguous-lines-power-
legislature?utm_source=chatgpt.com> )
So, for a modern example like:
* western Jefferson County joining Clallam County, or
* part of eastern King County joining Snohomish County,
there is currently no simple administrative procedure.
In practice, accomplishing such a change today would probably require:
* new statewide legislation creating a broader county-boundary-change process,
* petitions,
* elections in affected territory (and possibly both counties),
* and likely court review and state-level approval. (MRSC <https://mrsc.org/explore-topics/planning/annexation/annexation-faqs?utm_source=chatgpt.com> )
Historically, county boundaries in Washington were mostly established in the 1800s and early 1900s, and they have changed very little since then.
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Tom Thiersch