A County Road Improvement District (CRID) is a financing method authorized under Chapter 36.88 RCW that allows property owners to finance improvements to existing Benton County roads that primarily benefit their properties.
Rather than requiring the full cost of the improvements to be paid before construction, the project costs are financed by Benton County and repaid over time through special assessments levied against the benefiting properties.
A CRID is commonly used when neighboring property owners wish to improve an existing County road, such as paving a gravel road, improving drainage, widening a roadway, or upgrading the road to current County standards.
What Types of Improvements Can Be Included?
Depending on the project, a County Road Improvement District may include improvements such as:
- Roadway paving.
- Road widening.
- Shoulder improvements.
- Drainage improvements.
- Culvert replacement or installation.
- Road reconstruction.
- Safety improvements.
- Other roadway improvements approved by Benton County.
The specific improvements included in a CRID are determined during the engineering and public review process.
How Does a CRID Work?
A County Road Improvement District allows property owners who directly benefit from roadway improvements to share in the cost of those improvements.
Once the project is completed, the construction costs are repaid over an established period through special assessments on the benefiting properties.
Unlike general taxes, these assessments may only be levied on properties that receive a measurable benefit from the project.
Who May Request a CRID?
A CRID may be initiated by adjacent property owners requesting improvements to an existing Benton County road.
To begin the process, a petition must be signed by at least a majority of the adjacent property owners benefiting from the proposed improvements.
Submitting a petition does not automatically establish a County Road Improvement District. The petition initiates Benton County's evaluation process to determine whether the project is legally, technically, and financially feasible.
Before You Submit a Petition
County Road Improvement District petitions are not submitted through the Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal.
Property owners interested in initiating a CRID should first contact Benton County Public Works to discuss the proposed project.
Public Works will:
- Explain the CRID process.
- Provide the required petition form.
- Discuss the proposed roadway improvements.
- Explain the evaluation process and anticipated timeline.
- Answer questions regarding engineering, financing, and assessments.
Completed petitions should be submitted to:
Email: pwpermits@co.benton.wa.us
Applicants may also contact Public Works by phone at (509) 786-5611 to request a petition or discuss a proposed project before beginning the process.
Petition Requirements
The petition should include:
- A description of the proposed roadway improvements.
- The location of the roadway.
- Identification of the benefiting properties.
- Signatures representing at least a majority of the adjacent property owners.
Public Works may request additional information if necessary to evaluate the proposed project.
Financing and Special Benefit
A County Road Improvement District may only be established when the proposed roadway improvements provide a special benefit to the properties that will be assessed.
Under Washington law, special assessments are not considered a general tax. Instead, each property may only be assessed based on the measurable increase in value or special benefit the improvement provides to that property.
As part of the evaluation process, Benton County must determine whether:
- The proposed improvements provide a measurable special benefit to the affected properties.
- The assessments are proportional to the benefit received by each property.
- The proposed assessments comply with Washington law governing special assessments.
A petition signed by a majority of adjacent property owners does not guarantee that a County Road Improvement District will be approved.
If Benton County determines that the proposed improvements do not provide sufficient special benefit to support the assessments, or that the assessments cannot be legally justified, the petition will not move forward.
Examples of situations where a CRID may not be approved include projects where:
- The roadway improvements do not significantly increase the value or utility of the benefiting properties.
- The proposed assessments would exceed the measurable benefit received by the assessed properties.
- The project does not satisfy the legal requirements governing special assessments.
Review Process
Once a completed petition has been received:
- Public Works reviews the petition to verify that it satisfies the minimum statutory requirements.
- County staff evaluates the proposed roadway improvements, including engineering feasibility, anticipated construction costs, roadway conditions, drainage requirements, and other technical considerations.
- As part of the evaluation, Benton County determines whether the proposed project satisfies the legal requirements for financing through a County Road Improvement District, including whether the improvements provide a legally supportable special benefit to the properties proposed to be assessed.
- If the project satisfies the legal, engineering, and financial requirements, the proposal may be presented to the Benton County Board of County Commissioners for consideration.
- Additional engineering studies, cost estimates, public notices, public hearings, and assessment analyses may be required before a County Road Improvement District is established.
- If the County determines that the proposed assessments cannot be legally supported, the petition will not proceed, even if it has been signed by a majority of the adjacent property owners.
- If approved by the Board of County Commissioners, Benton County will administer the design, construction, financing, and assessment process in accordance with Chapter 36.88 RCW.
Construction and Assessments
Once a County Road Improvement District has been approved and financing has been established, Benton County administers the roadway improvement project.
Project design, bidding, construction, inspection, and contract administration are completed in accordance with applicable County policies and Washington State public works requirements.
Following construction, the final project costs are allocated among the benefiting properties based on the assessment methodology established during the CRID process.
Property owners repay their assessments over the repayment period established for the district.
Before Contacting Public Works
Before requesting a petition, it is helpful to have:
☐ General location of the roadway.
☐ Description of the desired improvements.
☐ General understanding of which properties would benefit.
☐ Preliminary support from neighboring property owners.
☐ Any available maps or photographs of the existing roadway.
Early discussions with Public Works are encouraged and do not obligate property owners to proceed with a County Road Improvement District.
Questions?
County Road Improvement Districts involve engineering, financing, legal review, public hearings, and assessment procedures that vary depending on the proposed project.
If you are interested in initiating a County Road Improvement District or would like to request a petition, please contact Benton County Public Works Development Review.
Email: pwpermits@co.benton.wa.us
Phone: (509) 786-5611
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