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House approves recodification of special districts, adds amendment to help bury electric lines
Summary
The House passed a recodification of special district law that tightens formation rules and public notice and approved a sponsor amendment enabling counties to create districts to share burial costs for electric utility lines; proponents framed it as consumer protection, opponents warned of increased complexity.
The House on March 2, 1998, advanced a major recodification of special-district law, aiming to tighten formation rules, increase public notice and generally make creation of districts more difficult. Sponsors said the bill is the product of interim study and a special task force and that it responds to public frustration about special districts created with limited input and appointed boards.
Multiple pink-sheet amendments were adopted to extend formation periods, adjust election rules, and cap total compensation. Representative Dave Allen moved a notable amendment that would permit counties to create special districts for burying electric utility lines and spread the costs among residents in a special district; Allen told members the cost to bury lines along the proposed route could be "about $50,000 per household" without cost‑sharing. Supporters said the amendment would allow shared financing to handle significant local infrastructure costs; debate included examples of special-district decisions that had effects beyond their borders and calls for greater public participation and reporting to the state auditor.
The combined package, with amendments, was accepted by the House and will be forwarded to the Senate for further action. Sponsors emphasized increased public notice, more elected boards where feasible, and a reporting requirement to the state office or auditor when a new special district is created.
