Rate Adjustment Requests By Public School Districts

Document Code No.: FIN 8-3 (PR)
Department/Issuing Agency: Department of Public Works/Surface Water Management Division
Effective Date: January 21, 1994
Approved: /s/ Tim Hill
Type of Action: New

Signed Document (PDF, 301 KB)

This public rule was superseded by FIN 8-4 (PR) on March 3, 2004.

1.0 SUBJECT TITLE: Rate Adjustment Requests By Public School Districts

2.0 PURPOSE:

2.1 To establish uniform procedures for public school districts requesting Surface Water Management Rate Adjustments.

2.2 To establish uniform procedures for processing public school district requests for Surface Water Management Rate Adjustments.

2.3 To implement King County Code 9.08.080.B.6

3.0 ORGANIZATIONS AFFECTED:

Public school districts receiving Surface Water Management service fee bills which provide surface water management-related curriculum.

4.0 REFERENCES:

Public Involvement Unit, Surface Water Management Division, 700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2200, Seattle, Washington, 98104; telephone: (206) 296-6519.

4.1 Legal Basis:

4.1.1 Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 36.89.080; RCW 36.89.085; RCW 35.67.200 through 35.67.290; RCW 36.29.020.

4.1.2 K.C.C. 9.08, Surface Water Management Program; 9.04, Surface Water Runoff Policy; Chapter 2.98, Rules of County Agencies.

4.1.3 King County Ordinance 8626 (1988); 7817 (1986); 7590 (1986); 10187 (1991).

5.0 DEFINITIONS:

5.1 "Director" means the Director of the King County Department of Public Works.

5.2 "Division" means the Surface Water Management Division.

5.3 "School District" means any public school district.

6.0 POLICIES:

6.1 Any public school district billed Surface Water Management service charges may request a rate adjustment from the Surface Water Management Division within three years of the date that the service charge was sent.

6.2 The public school district submitting a request for rate adjustment has the burden of proving the rate adjustment should be granted.

6.3 The period for payment of a Surface Water Management service charge is not extended by filing a request for rate adjustment.

6.4 Decisions on requests for rate adjustments will be made in accordance with the criteria set forth in K.C.C. 9.08.080 and this Public Rule. In accordance with K.C.C. 9.08.080, a request for rate adjustment by a school district may be approved when:

6.4.1 The parcel is owned or leased by a public school district which provides activities which directly benefit the Surface Water Management Program. The activities may include: curriculum administered by the school district to students or teachers that is specific to the issues and problems of surface and storm water management, and hands-on activities which expose students to the efforts required to restore, monitor, or enhance the surface and storm water management system. Pursuant to RCW 36.89.085, the amount of the rate adjustment shall be determined by the Director based upon the cost of the activities to the school district but not to exceed the value of the activity to the Surface Water Management Program. Determination of which activities qualify for the surface water management service charge reduction will be made by the Surface Water Management Division. Reductions in surface water management service charges will only be granted to school districts which provide programs that have been evaluated by the Surface Water Management Division. The rate adjustment for the school district activity may be applied to any parcel in the service area which is owned or operated by the school district.

6.5 The Director shall notify each rate adjustment applicant of the decision regarding the request. This notification shall be in writing and mailed within thirty days of the SWM Division's receipt of the completed "Request for Rate Adjustment" form unless additional information is needed for completion of the review.

7.0 PROCEDURES:

Action By: School District

Action:

7.1 Submits a "Request for Rate Adjustment" form with the proper "Qualifying Condition" indicated and adequate documentation attached in compliance with King County Code 9.08.080.

Action By: Division

Action:

7.2 Reviews the Request for Rate Adjustment and determines if it meets King County Code 9.08.080 or if any further documentation will be required from the school district. Documentation which may be required could include a report identifying the SWM-related curriculum administered by the school district in the relevant school year. The report must document the number of teachers, classes, hours of instruction, and costs involved in administering the curriculum.

8.0 RESPONSIBILITIES:

8.1 The public school district is responsible for proving that the rate adjustment should be granted (King County Code 9.08.080.C).

8.2 The public school district is responsible for paying the surface water management service charge by the date specified on the statement. Filing a Request for Rate Adjustment does not extend the period for payment (King County Code 9.08.060.A).

8.3 The Division is responsible for reviewing each Request for Rate Adjustment and determining if the Request meets the rate adjustment conditions established in King County Code 9.08.080.

8.4 The Director is responsible for approving Requests for Rate Adjustment.

9.0 APPENDICES:

This appendix is available from the Surface Water Management Division:

9.1 Request for Rate Adjustment Form.