[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6501095,"mediaKeyId","5576854-39b0395ab6a5556a4a12091379f38b2a","parentId",5576854,"title","Commissioners approve revised 2026'2027 budget calendar as county confronts multi-million-dollar general fund gap","audioSeconds",2528,"startMs",4682000,"endMs",7210000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576854-39b0395ab6a5556a4a12091379f38b2a&start=4682&end=7210","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576854-39b0395ab6a5556a4a12091379f38b2a/thumbnail_4682000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6501095/Thurston-County/Washington/Commissioners-approve-revised-20262027-budget-calendar-as-county-confronts-multi-million-dollar-general-fund-gap","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501095-6cab308b49e5e7d634f84ac5f7482fa1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770707434&Signature=nSOouFnL1HFWLxxld0NC7ILyaKU5DvNG85lVrCYkxbSQKx6qLyke1XmGUyg8tvgThK0FN9QHFysZR5trivVyNFNoCTjqHnnjtZDsVIscSBnsN8BVR4GqhD88NrK4gitTHDTwBq5RdYl~1W0n2r0dHoVOhdtYkrtqnY44vGwPoVDLdwSbqgYrJ1fw7JmMKGIw-cMtattnAs5OnXJDCIVUMPpnxPxl1syydIseorXEFbbVs5JvvpzQ5KJB18Nshk8hz2NBGYJ7BS0w3AEPPFWUVLPly17GvBGowi5Eta~ZZnafd6jH66ophro6fdiSoN6gAO1z6xSjunkwQEc5J58G7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Thurston County Washington","date","2025-08-14T07:09:29Z","article","Thurston County budget staff told commissioners on Aug. 13 that the county faces a structural general fund shortfall driven by weaker-than-expected revenue performance and rising expenditure pressures, and the board approved a revised budget development calendar to guide planning for the 2026'2027 biennium.

Budget presentation highlights: Summer Miller, budget and finance manager, said the county's adopted 2025 expenditure budget exceeds anticipated revenues by approximately $22 million as of Amendment 2, creating a structural deficit. The team presented a five-year fund-balance forecast and said conservative revenue assumptions and several known expenditure drivers are worsening the outlook for 2026 and 2027.

Specific drivers cited by staff included lower-than-projected property- and sales-tax receipts, one-time revenues in prior years that are no longer available (including certain other revenues and ARPA-related transfers), ratified collective bargaining agreements with multi-year cost implications, updated internal service rate estimates and the potential costs tied to implementing the public defense caseload standards described earlier in the meeting.

Fund balance and scenarios: Staff presented three year-end 2025 fund-balance scenarios: optimistic about $15.8 million, a realistic estimate near $13.0 million and a pessimistic estimate around $10.6 million. Staff said the county's monthly operating cushion is roughly $12 million now and could be nearer $13 million in 2026 depending on year-end results. The budget team warned that without corrective action the county would deplete reserves over time.

Reduction targets and next steps: Staff calculated that targeted reductions in the 2025 operating budget could range from roughly 3% (reflecting typical reversions) to as much as 9% depending on revenue outcomes. They also presented a scenario in which a larger one-time reversion (about 25% of 2026 operating expenses in the county's model) would reduce the projected 2026 expenditures but still leave sizable reductions necessary in 2027. The budget team said they will return with department-level reduction scenarios and requested authority to move the budget calendar forward and to permit limited manager-level adjustments to the calendar as needed.

Board action: The board voted to approve a revised 2026-2027 budget development calendar that incorporates amendments related to the 2025 fiscal year and delegated authority to the county manager to accept further calendar revisions if necessary. The motion passed with three ayes and one abstention (Commissioner Rachel Grant abstained because she said she had not had sufficient time to review the updated calendar materials). The transcript recorded the outcome but did not identify the motion maker or seconder by name.

Why it matters: Staff emphasized that the county cannot rely indefinitely on fund balance to cover ongoing expenditures and that revenue growth assumptions must be reconciled with spending plans. Commissioners asked for line-item breakout detail of projected cost increases (COLAs, contracts and other drivers) to inform possible revenue options and spending-containment measures.

Ending note: Budget staff said they would follow up with department-level impact analyses, publish the detailed calendar and return to the board quickly with options for reductions and more granular line-item detail.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 13, 2025 Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Meeting.","oneSentenceSummary","The board voted to approve a revised 2026-2027 budget development calendar and delegated limited authority to the county manager, after budget staff reported a structural general fund gap driven by revenue shortfalls and upcoming cost pressures including the public defense projections and ratified labor agreements.","taxTitle","Thurston County, Washington","taxId",4614,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6501099,"County outlines draft 2025'1, 5-year homeless housing plan, cites robust public input",1355,3318000,4673000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576854-39b0395ab6a5556a4a12091379f38b2a&start=3318&end=4673","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576854-39b0395ab6a5556a4a12091379f38b2a/thumbnail_3318000.jpg","/articles/6501099/Thurston-County/Washington/County-outlines-draft-20251-5-year-homeless-housing-plan-cites-robust-public-input","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501099-1780da5d89f99cfc5dec053cd25facaa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770707434&Signature=DzE~m4mv4qIElgghYGSf9n-Q1YZh-iYD~KWCJm~gRccLjALugNqlqrFvMt26mWcpaLpYk~0ZUOraEhGpcMq5sEuSMIf-cyqm1NxoeWvtk3zY8Xc9pKhbxYcgGDf-KzigAXCJZjzywu5L8Ao0IkMM2gqiqzufYhe1QytKPE3zQG8X9XFbteTJ7aA7-um7C91YkykiqcD4HRhycAWjLNVQcUhfXIzsbzInrhkjCMbS6k41c2EeWgTzi2ZRzAZf96oNbYzswmWylpYgXbZ7bH44FlhzhAbz0d~hppVQPVFVdXltJATEuypnxygKiUiw-rWEkIm608bu5AbyvDaLMOQmAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thurston County public health and housing officials presented the county's draft five-year homeless housing plan (2025'2030) at the Aug. 13 Board of County Commissioners work session and described public engagement, the plan's required elements and next steps to submit a final plan to the Washington State Department of Commerce.

The plan is a funding requirement tied to Department of Commerce guidance, Jen Freitheit, director of Public Health and Social Services, said. Tom Webster, senior program manager for the Office of Housing and Homelessness Prevention, told commissioners the plan must document current service levels, funding sources and capital projects, estimate emergency and permanent housing needs, prioritize capital projects, and record the public engagement process.

Why it matters: The plan frames how Commerce-funded homeless housing dollars and capital projects are prioritized in Thurston County and serves as a planning \"North Star\" for the Regional Housing Council and the homeless services advisory process.

What staff reported: The county said it exceeded Commerce's minimum engagement requirements by running two public surveys and targeted listening sessions. The county reported 557 total responses to a public survey, including 94 respondents who reported lived experience with homelessness in the past 10 years, and 157 responses from the homeless service provider workforce. Staff also conducted listening sessions with tiny-home villages and other front-line providers.

\"This is a requirement of our funding from the Department of Commerce,\" Tom Webster said. The plan must also address five Commerce objectives: equitable and transparent crisis response; strengthening the homeless service workforce; preventing episodes of homelessness; prioritizing assistance to those at greatest risk; and seeking to house everyone in stable settings that meet their needs.

Strategies and priorities: Staff presented draft objectives and strategies under each Commerce objective, including improving system transparency and data, fostering collaborative learning among providers, optimizing prevention resources, building landlord partnerships to increase access to market-rate units, and maintaining and expanding a continuum of housing options. Jackie, the county's homeless response program manager, said the team sought to avoid a \"check-box\" plan and instead produce a community-driven strategy.

Next steps and deadlines: Staff said a draft will be posted for a 30-day public comment period this fall, a draft will be submitted to Commerce for contractor review in September, and the county aims to present the plan to the Regional Housing Council in October and return to the full commission for approval in November. The plan is due to the Department of Commerce by December 2025.

Ending note: Commissioners asked about metrics, reporting and how Commerce monitors outcomes; staff said the plan will include tasks with responsible parties, timelines and annual reporting to Commerce.","Thurston County public health and housing staff presented a draft 2025-2030 five-year homeless housing plan framework to commissioners, describing required Department of Commerce elements, public engagement results and next steps toward a December 2025 submission.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6501102,"Thurston County public defenders outline costly plan to meet new state caseload standards",2473,818000,3291000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576854-39b0395ab6a5556a4a12091379f38b2a&start=818&end=3291","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576854-39b0395ab6a5556a4a12091379f38b2a/thumbnail_818000.jpg","/articles/6501102/Thurston-County/Washington/Thurston-County-public-defenders-outline-costly-plan-to-meet-new-state-caseload-standards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501102-f5780f9ca5dfdc8b71518af95f0a82d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770707434&Signature=Scx~FYvhq7OQMNc6MSta7Hw2kRHdvHeHIa8NquIkESFE0foWiFIfzh5xobJQcHS9yVAxIFTZpl9mWgw-eXT2~ldRjgGUzPPM992~Cb3mApkmJqXzBRkyKeECV8LNDRTfVSLIEhJj2i97NFp~lMw3hMvmBiTBeKCKRpa-C3E-n6zkT6eGgM6fG3JRorEhU3euylsWK0hjDKMhV-jD5YpY4m7tUbaqTH0riEfS2esr2MaAcny0~-cGeHdkw2QDOPbWBZurnCBeSrUACy-FyLpWF4jBsBBs1exvmmYxB5Nq64ZmzngNLkP-XR50Rayya6uJdG3TXyVkmHcRVPYqLQoVXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thurston County public defense officials told the Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 13 that a Washington Supreme Court order implementing revised public defense caseload standards takes effect Jan. 2026 and will require counties to reduce caseloads or add staff to comply.

The court's order implements recommendations from the Washington State Bar Association and requires counties to begin a drawdown in caseloads starting in January 2026, with full compliance to follow within a maximum 10-year period. \"This is a binding court order from our Supreme Court to indigent defenders,\" Patrick O'Connor, director of Thurston County Public Defense, said during the work session.

The court set maximum annual caseloads under the revised guidance that counties must reach within the drawdown period: for example, maximums of 47 felonies and 120 misdemeanors per attorney (counts vary by case type and youth/ITA categories). O'Connor said the order also requires counties to adopt case-weighting or else count actual case numbers under the default rule.

Why it matters: County public defenders currently receive far less attorney-time credit under the old standards; O'Connor described the change as substantial and said the new standards reflect the increased hours now needed per case because of discovery demands such as body-worn camera footage.

What the county presented: Using two years of recent appointment data, O'Connor's office projected staffing needs to meet the new standards under the fastest plausible staffing model. He told commissioners the office would need 35 additional defense attorneys under the projection that assumes the maximum 10-year phase-in but implemented faster, broken into 25 felony attorneys, six misdemeanor attorneys, two juvenile attorneys and two ITA (involuntary treatment act) attorneys. He said support staff, investigators and supervisory positions would also be required as the attorney headcount grows.

\"I don't want to hire all these attorneys. I don't wanna have to add 35 more attorneys,\" O'Connor said, adding that the county could pursue fewer hires if it reduced incoming appointments. He recommended a five-year implementation plan to strike a balance between budget realities and recruiting/retention needs.

Costs and timing: O'Connor and county budget staff presented two implementation cost models (five-year and 10-year). The office emphasized additional recurring costs beyond salaries, including investigator positions, administrative support, management, indirect county services (IT, HR, facilities) and conflict-contract counsel for conflicts of interest. The county's budget team told commissioners the five-year plan would bring faster relief to staff and improve competitiveness in recruiting; the 10-year path spreads costs longer but still increases total expense in some projections.

Recruitment and workforce issues: Speakers emphasized this is a statewide workforce challenge. O'Connor and county managers noted other counties (King, Snohomish) are recruiting aggressively, potentially creating retention risk. The presentation described recruiting work already underway and noted the standards themselves can be a retention tool for current defenders.

Next steps and board direction: O'Connor asked the commission to consider the five-year implementation model as a planning baseline and to treat the next biennium as the first step toward compliance. County management and budget staff offered to follow up with more detailed cost breakdowns and to work with the board on biennial budget planning for implementation steps.

Ending note: Commissioners asked follow-up questions about the projection methodology, recruiting challenges and timing; staff said they will return with more detailed budget requests and answers to specific questions.","County public defense staff told commissioners the Washington Supreme Court's new caseload order, effective Jan. 2026, will require either big staff increases or reduced caseloads; county staff recommended a five-year implementation and presented cost and staffing projections.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners approve revised 2026'2027 budget calendar as county confronts multi-million-dollar general fund gap

County outlines draft 2025'1, 5-year homeless housing plan, cites robust public input

Thurston County public defenders outline costly plan to meet new state caseload standards