Board sets public hearing on proposed Lake Lawrence Lake Management District

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners agreed to set a public hearing on a petition to establish Lake Lawrence Lake Management District (LMD) No. 26 and heard public testimony describing the district’s proposed funding plan and rationale.

Barry Halverson, co‑chair of the Lake Lawrence Lake Management District steering committee, told the board the committee has prepared for a reauthorization effort and asked the board to set a public hearing (agenda item 10). Halverson said the proposed LMD relies on a 35‑year budget to fund multi‑decade harmful‑algal‑bloom mitigation, and that the petition includes a proposed 130% assessment increase for shoreline and lakefront properties and a 10% increase for other properties, effective Jan. 1, 2027, if adopted.

Halverson said the steering committee is also working with the state Legislature to amend RCW language he described as limiting assessment increases (transcript citation: “RCW 36 61 1 70”), and that the petition’s resolution of intent includes language to accommodate possible legislative changes.

County staff updated the board that the assessment roll distributed before the meeting totaled about $340,000 and that the earlier petition capped the total at $325,000; staff said the committee asked to re‑add a senior and disabled discount, which would reduce the roll back to $325,000 to match the original petition. Staff noted the item is scheduled for a published 3:30 p.m. public hearing.

The board did not take a final action to form the district on Tuesday; it set the public hearing to determine public interest and financial feasibility. The petition and the assessment roll will be available in the public record and considered at the hearing.