Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation November 18, 2010 Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation 1

Lewis County FCZD Grays Harbor County FCZD Thurston County FCZD or SWM Chehalis Tribe Interlocal Agreement* Defines: Governance Project selection Cost shares Coordination * Forms entity such as interlocal agency or joint authority Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation 2

 Multi-County Flood District could continue based on the terms of the interlocal agreement or  Multi-County Flood District could be replaced by an independently governed multi-county flood control zone district ◦ Legislation currently being drafted to allow for this option Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation 3

Rates v. Taxes v. Assessments  What is the best combination of funding sources to use to recover Chehalis River Basin flood program costs in terms of equity, revenue sufficiency, reliability, ease of administration, and other factors? Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation 4

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 Each of the three counties reports that while $.50 / $1,000 AV is currently available against the $5.90 cap ◦ 2010 taxable assessed value will likely decrease ◦ Other tax levy rates will likely increase  Result: Possible compression  not predictable at this time if $.50 / $1,000 AV will remain available 6Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation

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Description Equitable Revenue Sufficiency Reliability Ease of Admin Taxes  Charges  Assessments   Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation 8

 Does it make sense to recover some contribution of runoff related costs in a rate and other flood control benefit related costs in a tax and/or assessment? ◦ RCW (4) authorizes charging rates “to those who are receiving or will receive benefits from storm water control facilities and who are contributing to an increase in surface water runoff.”  If a rate is used, how would it be reconciled with existing local drainage utility rates? Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation 9

 Public Information: Education materials – flood proofing guidance  Regulation: Improve floodplain regulations, develop conservation easement programs  Planning and data collection: Improve hydraulic modeling, study woody debris and stream gravels  Reduce damage to existing structures: Develop home evaluation and buyout programs  Emergency response and preparedness: Develop early warning systems  Natural resources protection projects: Protect and restore riparian areas Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation 10

 Floodplain protection ◦ Culvert improvements, tributary drainage improvements  Bank protection ◦ Bank stabilization and protection  Conveyance capacity ◦ Open channel migration zone Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation 11

Uniform v. Area-Specific Funding  Does it make sense to recover costs uniformly within the District by applying the same rate and/or tax throughout?  If a uniform approach is preferred, should revenue generated in one area of the Basin be in any way limited as far as where in the Basin it can be spent? If so, how should it be limited? Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation 12

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 Does it make sense to charge different rates, taxes, or assessments in different parts of the Basin depending on their specific needs? If so, ◦ How many different areas and associated rates, taxes, or assessments are appropriate? ◦ Which types of costs should be allocated among areas, e.g., operations and maintenance, capital? ◦ How should those costs be allocated among areas? ◦ What are the offsetting costs of implementation and ongoing administration? Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation 14

 How can the FCZD(s) protect its property tax revenues, if used, given the fact that the $.50 per $1,000 tax rate authorization can be consumed by other, more senior, entities. Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation 15

 What is an appropriate working capital balance to maintain as a cushion against fluctuating expenditures, taking into account the size of the program and other factors?  How should capital repair and replacement be funded over time?  What is an appropriate level of capital contingency funding to maintain for emergency needs? Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation 16

 What is an appropriate capital funding strategy? When should debt be issued & by whom? When is a public vote necessary to issue debt?  If bonds are utilized, what is a prudent target coverage ratio to maximize fiscal health & allow for future debt issuance as needed? ◦ Revenue bond issues are typically accompanied by a coverage requirement of 1.25 or more ◦ General obligation bonds usually do not require coverage, however, such a target may be set by policy. Chehalis River Basin Flood District Formation 17