Laserfiche WebLink
than developing a good set of LID ordinances, policies and procedures. Some larger agencies, <br />notably Tacoma and Ding and Spokane Counties have proactive programs in which they promote <br />LID/RIDs not only for larger projects, but also for neighborhood improvement projects. See <br />Chapter 8 for descriptions of programs within the state and in other states. Some agencies even <br />have non -LID cooperative improvement programs, also described in Chapter 8. <br />LIDs and RiDs are special assessment districts in wh,ch improvements will specially benefit <br />primarily the property owners in the district. They are created under the sponsorship of a <br />municipal government and are not self governing speciai purpose districts. To the extent and in <br />the manner noted in ;he enabling statutes, they must be approved by both the local government <br />and benefitted property owners, There are other strange creatures that look like LIDS in that <br />assessments are levied against property in a specially benefitted area but whose formation does <br />notfoliow LID or RID statutes. These include latecomer assessments, sidewalk assessments and <br />parking and business improvement areas. See Chapter 8. <br />.,A a We Hauing Fun Yet?" <br />LIDS are more fun than: <br />...root canals without Novocain <br />...a three-month visit from your in-laws <br />...balancing agency budgets... <br />Did you hear about the finance director who, through an extremely astute investment, <br />increased the cash value of the city's investment portfolio by $3 million? When asked how <br />the city would spend this unexpected windfall, he said: "Well, I guess we'll just keep on <br />doing LIDS (Local Improvement Districts) until it's all gone." <br />(John Carpita, Public Works Consultant, Municipal Research and Services Center, Municipal Research <br />News, June 1896) <br />The preceding is more theatrical than actual, as LIDs do not become a drain on a city's general <br />fund unless something goes really wrong. LIDs, however, do have a reputation as difficult to <br />administer, tine consuming, and a public relations disaster waiting to happen. LIDS can play a <br />very positive and powerful role in developing and enhancing your city's infrastructure. ;n this <br />section, we'll examine a few aspects of this uniquely American method of funding infrastructure <br />improvements and how to ensure a worry -free LID financed project. <br />What Is an UD or UUM <br />Local Improvement Districts (LIDs) are a means of assisting benefitting properties in financing <br />needed capital improvements through the formation of special assessment districts. A variation <br />of the LID is the Utility Local Improvement District (ULID). LIDS can play a very positive and <br />powerful role in developing and enhancing your municipality's infrastructure. <br />LIDs permit improvements to befinanced and paid for overa period of time through assessments <br />on the benefitting properties. The difference betwea UL'Ds and LIDs is that utility revenues are <br />pledged to the repayment of the ULID debt, in addition to the assessments on the benefitting <br />properties. State statutes provide that a LID can be converted to a ULID after formation; the <br />reverse is not possib'e. <br />2 Local and Road Improvement Districts Manua! for Washington State Sixth EdNon <br />