AGO Opinion Topics: WATER DISTRICT

A water district organized under the laws of the state of Washington cannot enter into a contract nor authorize a health and accident plan at district expense for employees without statutory authority.

A water district must sell any property which will not be needed pursuant to the provisions of RCW 57.08.015 .   The power to sell in any manner must be necessarily or fairly implied in or incidental to the broad power to sell which is granted by statute.

Water district commissioners lack authority to expend funds on an improvement plan which voters rejected.  Water district commissioners may sell real property purchase option to private party.