AGO Opinion Topics: PUBLICATION

There is no statutory requirement that the entire text of a proposed revised zoning plan, including official controls, be published (1) prior to the hearing before the planning commission; or (2) prior to the public meeting at which the official controls are adopted by the board of county commissioners.

(1) A school district has not been authorized by the legislature either expressly or by implication to expend district funds or utilize its school facilities or employees for printing and mailing a bulletin, the purpose of which is to influence a favorable result in a school election. (2) A school district does not have express or implied statutory authority to expend its funds or utilize its facilities or employees for printing and mailing a bulletin, the purpose of which is to provide general information to the inhabitants of the district or the general public (and not merely the students and/or parents) about the district's public schools and school programs.  However, the district may by letter, mimeographed or printed bulletin publish and disseminate such information of a general or special interest to students and to parents of children attending or about to attend school in the district (as distinguished from a publication designed to influence a particular vote at an election).

Ordinances of a city of the third class must be published at least once in the city's official newspaper, if there be one, and if there be no official newspaper, then in some other newspaper published in the city, and if there be no newspaper published in the city then it must be published or posted in at least three public places in such city in such manner as the city council may direct.

Proposed amendment, Sec. 33-A, to the Bellingham charter could not be validly passed at the general city election to be held March 9, 1954.  Consequently, it should not be placed upon the ballot.  The petition, because of its language, could not be held in abeyance and submitted to the voters at a later election, although this would ordinarily be permissible.