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SUBJECTS › GOVERNANCE › SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS › What is a Special District?
Updated 10/08

What is a Special District?

Contents

Overview

Special purpose districts are generally created through the county legislative authority to meet a specific need of the local community. The need may be a new service or a higher level of an existing service. They are political subdivisions of the state and come into existence, acquire legal rights and duties, and are dissolved in accordance with statutory procedures. Enabling legislation sets forth the purpose of the district, procedures for formation, powers, functions and duties, composition of the governing body, methods of finance, and other provisions. The districts are usually quasi-municipal corporations though some are statutorily defined as municipal corporations. Although the general provisions for some special district statutes have been consolidated, such as for diking and drainage districts, there is no set of uniform provisions covering all special districts in Washington as there is with cities and counties.

Special District vs. Special Purpose District

The phrases "special district" and "special purpose district" are often used interchangeably, and commonly refer to:

  • limited purpose special districts
  • certain taxing districts (See definition of taxing districts on Special District Revenue Sources)
  • benefit assessment districts
  • special benefit districts
  • some authorities
  • any local government in Washington which is not a city, town, or county

Washington's Definitions of Special Districts

  • There is no single uniform definition of a special district or a special purpose district in the Revised Code Washington (RCW).
  • Special districts and special purpose districts are defined within the context of a particular title or chapter of the RCW.
  • The definition generally applies only to the provisions addressed by a particular statute.
  • Washington statutes have defined special districts as:
    • municipalities
    • units of local government
    • municipal corporations
    • quasi-municipal corporations
    • public body corporate and politic
  • Sample Definitions
    • General definition: Any unit of local government other than a city, town, county, or school district, Sunrise Act 43.133.020 RCW.
    • Specific definition: A special district means as a local unit of government, other than a city, town, or county, authorized by law to perform a single function or a limited number of functions, and including but not limited to, water-sewer districts, irrigation districts, fire districts, school districts, community college districts, hospital districts, transportation districts, and metropolitan municipal corporations organized under chapter 35.58 RCW. (RCW 39.80.020 (3)).  RCW 39.80.020 (3)

Census Bureau Definition of Special District Governments

The Census Bureau defines special district governments as, "All organized local entities other than the four categories listed above [county, municipal, township, school district governments], authorized by State law to provide only one or a limited number of designated functions, and with sufficient administrative and fiscal autonomy to qualify as separate governments; known by a variety of titles, including districts, authorities, boards, commissions, etc., as specified in the enabling state legislation." Appendix A, 2002 Census of Governments, Government Organization Vol. 1, No. 1.

Special Districts with Separate Governments

To determine how many special districts are autonomous, each statute needs to be examined. In Washington, some districts have autonomous governing boards, but their funding may depend on approval by the county legislative body.  For others, members of county legislative body convene as the governing board of the special district.  Legislation is passed in the name of the district. 

Most of the Washington statutes creating the special district state that the district is municipal corporation or quasi municipal corporation.  The enabling statute generally contains the clauses that the district is an independent taxing "authority" within the meaning of Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution, and a "taxing district" within the meaning of Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution; and  that the district is a body corporate and possesses all the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes as well as all other powers that may now or hereafter be specifically conferred by statute, including, but not limited to, the authority to hire employees, staff, and services, to enter into contracts, and to sue and be sued and can be sued.