HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 08-055-CCBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Grant County, Washington
A RESOLUTION IMPOSING A SURCHARGE ON ) RESOLUTION NO, 08- O S'S -CC
CIVIL FILING FEES IN DISTRICT COURT AND ) ORDINANCE NO. 08- n S� -CC
ON SMALL CLAIMS ACTIONS AND, OTHER )
MATTERS PROPERLY RELATING THERETO. )
RECITALS:
WHEI2EAS, Grant County, Washington (County), is a Class 3 county, duly organized and
operated under the Constitution and laws of the State of Washington; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature found resolution of many disputes can be costly and complex in
a judicial setting where the parties involved are necassarily in an adversarial posture and subject to
formalized procedures; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature found alternate dispute resolution centers (DRC) can meet the
needs of Washington's citizens by providing forums in which persons may voluntarily participate in
the resolution of disputes in an informal and less adversarial atmosphere; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to chapter 7,75 RCW, the Board of County Commissioners
established a DRC after a public hearing on June 24, 2008; and
WHEREAS, chapter 7.75 RCW empowers county commissioners, as the legislative
authority of counties, to impose a surcharge on civil filing fees in District Court and small claims
actions, to augment funding of a DRC; and
WHEREAS, the Columbia Basin Dispute Resolution Center (CBDRC), a group of
volunteers organized as a non-profit organization exclusively for the resolution of disputes through
mediation and other taslcs authorized pursuant to chapter 7,75 RCW, submitted its OP to the Board of
County Commissioners (BOCC); and
WHEREAS, the cumulative costs to the court system to process legal disputes which could
otherwise be resolved pursuant to an alternative dispute resolution process can be a burden on
government; and
WHEREAS, the BOCC found and determined that it is the best interest of the citizens of
Grant County to impose a surcharge on civil filing fees in District Court and small claims actions to
augment funding of a DRC; and
WHEREAS, the BOCC found and determined a DRC will relieve congested and overly
taxed court systems, saving taxpayers the unnecessary expenditure of public funds and, pernzitting
those who require access to the court system a more streamlined process for resolution of disputes;
and
WHEREAS, the BOCC found and determined that Grant County government, the courts and
the public, will all benefit from funding for a local DRC through the imposition of a surcharge on
civil filings in District Court and on small claims actions, NOW, THEREFORE:
RESOLUTION IMPOSING SURGCHARE FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTON CENTGR Page 1 of 2
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BE IT RESOLVED AND ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS THAT A SURCHARGE IS IMPOSED ON CIVIL FILINGS IN
DISTRICT COURT AND ON SMALL CLAIMS ACTIONS TO AUGUMENT FUNDING
FOR GRANT COUNTY DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTERS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT
TO CHAPTER 7.75 RCW.
Section 1. Surcharge Rate, There shall be placed a surcharge of Five and No/100 Dollars
($5.00) on each civil filing fee in District Court and Five and No/100 Dollars ($5.00) on each small
claims action, for the purpose of funding DRCs established in Grant County pursuant to chapter 7.75
RCW. This surcharge shall be in addition to any existing surcharge(s) currently in place on civil
filing fees in District Coui�t and small claims actions,
Section 2. Surcharge Use. Proceeds frorn this surcharge shall be collected by the District
Court Clerlc's Office and remitted to the Treasurer for deposit into a separate account to be used
solely for DRCs established pursuant to, and to carry out the purposes of, chapter 7.75 RCW,
Section 3, Severability. If any provision of this ordinance/resolution, or its application to aziy
person, party or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the ordinance/resolution or the
application of provisions to other persons, parties or circumstance, shall not be affected.
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Section 4. Effective Date. This ordinance/resolution shall talce effect the ��ay of
�ili � , 2008.
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A public hearing was held on the �bove ordinance/resolution at 11:30 am on the 8t�' day of July,
2008.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT THE GRANT COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS pass and adopt this ordinance/resolution on the 8th day of July, 2008.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Yea Nay Abstain GRANT COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Ric ard B. Stevens, Chair
C�' C7 O
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ATTEST:
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arbara J, Vasq ,� f the Board
PUBLISHED: 06/11/08; 06/18/08
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❑ �
Cindy C, artar, Vice Chair
❑ �� ` ' 1 1
LeRoy C. Allison,lVlem
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