Hjr 4209 Offers Flexibility

In 1970, Washington voters decided this state’s longstanding restriction against lending public money for private purposes was too limiting.

They amended the Constitution just enough to let local governments loan money to private property owners for water- or energy-conservation improvements.

Now, House Joint Resolution 4209 offers voters a chance to extend that authority to stormwater and sewer services.

There’s been no outcry for the concept in Spokane County, but the flexibility could come in handy. If, for example, neighborhoods such as the Moran Prairie area south of Spokane wanted to capture storm runoff in cisterns - instead of their basements - and use it for irrigation, HJR 4209 might make doing so feasible.

State lawmakers voted 46-1 in the Senate and 97-0 in the House for HJR 4209. The measure deserves similar support from voters.

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