Per RCW 27.12.100, voters in an existing intercounty library district may participate, with voters outside of the district, in elections to establish a new expanded intercounty rural library district. In this case, would an existing intercounty library district dissolve if voters of that district rejected an expanded district?

An informal AGO Opinion issued 5/5/1987, signed by Assistant Attorney General Jerri Thomas and addressed to Mary Y. Moore, states:

“You have also asked whether the original district would automatically dissolve if the voters, using the petition/election method, turned down the proposal for an expanded district… In my opinion, the original district would not dissolve even if the expanded district vote was negative. The existing district would remain intact following a negative vote on expanding the district.”