drafter
Clerk 05/15/2026
Title
AN ORDINANCE regarding the King County noxious weed control program; revising King County noxious weed control program assessments; amending Ordinance 13325, Sections 1 and 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 4A.670.200 and establishing an effective date.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. Ordinance 20004, adopted as part of the 2026-2027 King County biennial budget, updated assessment rates for the King County noxious weed control program. Due to a scrivener's error, several numerical values were inaccurately represented when spelled out in Ordinance 20004.
2. The discrepancies between the intended rates and the adopted text would reduce annual noxious weed control program revenues by an estimated $45,000 beginning in 2026.
3. A technical correction is necessary to align the assessment with the council’s adopted intent and to ensure that adequate revenues are collected to sustain existing service levels.
4. No policy changes are proposed.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. A. Section 2 of this ordinance proposes technical corrections to the noxious weed control program assessments adopted in Ordinance 20004.
B. These assessments are authorized under RCW 17.10.240.
SECTION 2. Ordinance 13325, Sections 1 and 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 4A.670.200 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
A. An assessment for the King County noxious weed control program of ((eight dollars and one hundred twenty-two one thousandths cents)) $8.122 per parcel and ((fifty-eight cents)) $0.5801 per acre on all property not classified as forest land shall be imposed annually. Property classified as forest land, as defined in RCW 84.33.035, that is used solely for the planting, growing or harvesting of trees and that is typified by canopies so dense as to prohibit the growth of an understory shall be assessed at the rate of ((eighty-one and two one-thousandths cents)) $0.8122 per parcel and ((five and eight one-thousandths)) $0.058 per acre.
B. The amount of the assessment shall constitute a lien against any property for which the assessment has not been paid by the date it is due, as provided in RCW 17.10.240. A notice of lien shall be sent to each owner of such a property.
C. Lands owned by the federal government or lands owned by federally recognized tribes or members of such tribes as are located within the historical
boundaries of a reservation shall not be assessed for the noxious weed control program.
SECTION 3. This ordinance takes effect January 1, 2027.