I am looking for any specific laws stating that a government agency cannot purchase real estate for over the value of the property. I need to know the specific wording, whether it says the "appraised" cost or the "actual value" of the property. I'm asking because our government purchased property for over double the state assessors value of the property. I don't know if this is a federal law or a state law, but I am in Washington state.
I'm assuming there is no penalty for this, other than shaming the agency in public - which I plan to do - but if there is a penalty, I would very much like to know what it is.
Thank you for your help.

