The department may enter into agreements with the county to:

(1) Identify public roads used to provide access to state forestlands in need of improvement;

(2) Establish a time schedule for the improvements;

(3) Advance payments to the county to fund the road improvements. However, no more than fifty percent of the access road revolving fund shall be eligible for use as advance payments to counties. The department shall assess the fund on January 1st and July 1st of each year to determine the amount that may be used as advance payments to counties for road improvements; and

(4) Determine the equitable distribution, if any, of costs of such improvements between the county and the state through negotiation of terms and conditions of any resulting repayment to the fund or funds financing the improvements.

Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.