[{"_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",6456163,"mediaKeyId","5693629-97d7bd629b980413fb6ea30deadc62f0","parentId",5693629,"title","Thurston County commissioners review new climate element for comprehensive plan","audioSeconds",1301,"startMs",51975,"endMs",1353940,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693629-97d7bd629b980413fb6ea30deadc62f0&start=51&end=1353","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693629-97d7bd629b980413fb6ea30deadc62f0/thumbnail_51975.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6456163/Thurston-County/Washington/Thurston-County-commissioners-review-new-climate-element-for-comprehensive-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456163-2a1845ff51211d4e92f4dc2125256a03/orig.mp4?Expires=1773577645&Signature=i4HFMJDt~89tfctv8ASjLbkC7RfUXtXGZbYrO62fqE3u0IcQV3v3gjQxY6Pf07ilJNVkqDnhzIpbG1tIa6f7neXD8qYY~-d1iVq-oVkODsYiMHKuW9-10jNVSPr7x91kV8seA8ko8dswV4ipdSBB3bW-B~VPNKYA0TjpGNPAYmwzvJd7HV7FScp~6pKlFcipIYcDeMjzvmpXE2Ix7d~uQ6t6FoxoiLPxdXsY9yc2pcSFfFy7hHB718-fgqKP3nF6lvlrZ~0JCqsGm9-pOwQ2uxcyBkqohZx7odyJiKt4ZHT1iD9rT~wrw1hHwKYFU6i5SzAif8UAFKGlD4BDFQJgnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Thurston County Washington","date","2025-08-27T20:30:17Z","article","Thurston County commissioners on Aug. 27 received a detailed briefing on a new climate element proposed for the county comprehensive plan, a change prompted by state law and local vulnerability studies.

Ashley Rye, director of community planning and development, told the board the climate component will cover two main categories required under state law: greenhouse‑gas mitigation and climate resiliency. \"This is a big topic, and it's a new topic for our comprehensive plan,\" Rye said, and staff provided background materials to help commissioners explain those topics to constituents.

The briefing explained mitigation will focus on transportation and building energy use rather than housing unit counts, while resiliency is framed as an umbrella covering preparedness and adaptation measures for risks such as more frequent wildfires, winter flooding and sea level rise. Derek Jay, community planning manager and former planning commission chair, said the office conducted a vulnerability assessment that highlighted higher wildfire and heat risks in a corridor through Grand Mound and near Rochester, and flood and sea‑level‑rise risks in lowland areas such as the Nisqually Valley.

Staff described a heavy public‑engagement process: multiple community forums, a community assembly, repeated planning commission sessions and one‑on‑one outreach with the Thurston Climate Action Team. Jay said the county built a crosswalk comparing the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan to the comprehensive plan, documented alignment and identified gaps in a multi‑page matrix that was reviewed in planning commission work sessions.

Rye and Jay said most changes from that engagement are already incorporated into the draft; remaining questions are largely wording and implementation details. The presentation emphasized that the climate chapter will be accompanied by climate‑related policies throughout the full plan and an implementation plan that lists concrete, prioritized actions where county resources can make a difference.

The briefing enumerated existing county efforts that inform the climate element, including the Thurston Climate Adaptation Plan, a recent hazard mitigation plan update, the county vulnerability assessment, the Climate Mitigation Plan and partnerships with the Thurston Conservation District and regional climate collaborative. Staff also noted county incentives for climate‑smart farming practices (streamlined permitting for on‑farm solar and conservation practices) and discussed habitat protection and forestry work, including an ongoing county habitat conservation program.

Jay said the planning commission spent substantial time making the implementation items pragmatic and prioritized for the county’s limited resources. Rye said the county is pursuing grant funds for watershed‑scale adaptive planning, climate‑informed stormwater management, forest management support and expansion of community forest efforts.

Commissioners asked about next steps and access to supporting materials. Staff said the vulnerability assessment and other supporting documents are available on the county website and that the planning commission had a special meeting scheduled the evening of Aug. 27; staff reported the comp plan work was through six of seven scheduled briefings and a final session is scheduled Sept. 17 on housing.

The presentation did not ask the board for final policy adoption on Aug. 27; staff said remaining items are largely wording and implementation choices that will come back to the board for policy decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 27, 2025 Thurston County Board of County Commissioners","oneSentenceSummary","Thurston County commissioners on Aug. 27 received a detailed briefing on a new climate element proposed for the county comprehensive plan, a change prompted by state law and local vulnerability studies.","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},6456159,"Thurston County budget team warns of widening general‑fund shortfall; commissioners discuss cuts and levy options",6373,1826160,8199175,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693629-97d7bd629b980413fb6ea30deadc62f0&start=1826&end=8199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693629-97d7bd629b980413fb6ea30deadc62f0/thumbnail_1826160.jpg","/articles/6456159/Thurston-County/Washington/Thurston-County-budget-team-warns-of-widening-generalfund-shortfall-commissioners-discuss-cuts-and-levy-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456159-c933fd35f5846c6ba00fb89a70afacc8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773577645&Signature=FFnTO3nnsuwVkSqnKyN8cZQSVdHZ12ZrVUyGkWY2Y0h9jq9OmBjOeChTWMLiC9oHYcZqlqMzMlftvjXNSViLipRbZMWzBtff8yc8dOwXjQnMgYtTWaHh~Vpu4hwyYQ4J2cKrnMEfL5hTNxny4I73ImkR~GamJ9E-gED~DeRKmduAuwrGpldUKwRo~-mV3GKPuK2v7kV7N~uLVRqgGU8BAYRxRjGiMkEngxZiVSn-Fs3GIqJyiArl4rQDwGC1zClGZGjH-KeuSItBkyJhnxg~0xuxx-V0qrinLU20Xqd-f-HhuHko2NOn8CUK8ieVaEn7JWJfidn4RIOUKoscUob0VA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thurston County budget staff on Aug. 27 told commissioners the county faces a structural shortfall that requires both expenditure reductions and new revenue options to reach a balanced 2026–27 biennial budget.

Summer Miller, agent and finance manager in the commissioners’ office, presented five‑year projections that show revenues flattening while expenditures rise. Miller cited key drivers including collective bargaining increases, internal service rate adjustments, new public‑defense caseload standards and inflationary pressures. She said the county’s previous fund‑balance “blip” after the pandemic was driven in part by ARPA lost‑revenue calculations but that projections now show a growing deficit.

Miller said the county has adopted $36 million of reductions for 2027 as part of the planning model but that, on current assumptions, an estimated 25% reduction is required for 2026 to reach balance. She also told the board about vacancy savings (roughly $6 million available in current vacancies) and urged departments to conserve discretionary spending for the remainder of 2025 so the county can finish the year with adequate operating reserves.

The briefing summarized two revenue options the board asked staff to analyze: a levy lid‑lift and the local sales‑and‑use tax option authorized by House Bill 2015. Staff described the difference between a one‑time (temporary) lid lift, a single‑year permanent reset and a multiyear permanent measure and noted timing constraints: approval steps, assessor calculations and statutory deadlines mean any levy plan requires several months of planning before a ballot.

Staff presented illustrative scenarios using current assessed valuations: the county’s current net levy rate was described as roughly $0.82 per $1,000 of assessed value (after road levy shifts and earmarks). Under staff estimates a $1.27 rate would generate roughly $31–33 million in additional annual revenue and a $1.80 rate would generate roughly $67 million; staff showed the corresponding tax impact on a $500,000 home.

Miller recommended that, if the county pursues the House Bill 2015 sales tax option, the board consider directing proceeds to the public‑defense caseload standard unless the state or courts provide funding. She said CJTC guidance and an application process exist but are not yet open and that administrative details remain to be confirmed.

Commissioners debated operational approaches. Commissioner Wayne Fournier moved a staff‑recommended package intended to pause new budget requests that would increase general‑fund obligations through the end of 2025, impose a hiring freeze and restrict nonessential travel and training; Fournier later withdrew the motion after discussion and asked staff to refine the proposal in response to questions about definitions and process. Commissioners raised points about the effect of grant‑funded positions, how to treat departments that bring revenue in non‑enterprise funds and the need to consult elected offices before adopting blanket hiring freezes or program suspensions.

Miller said the budget team will deliver targets to departments and begin a focused exercise to quantify operational impacts; staff recommended quarterly reporting of actual spending and monthly analyst‑to‑program check‑ins for the remainder of the year. County Manager Leonard Hernandez and commissioners stressed that the exercise is intended to preserve operating cash through year‑end and to provide specific impact analyses before any final policy decisions.

No final board action to adopt a hiring freeze or cut package was taken on Aug. 27; commissioners asked staff to return with refined proposals and additional detail on other‑fund revenues, position funding mixes and assessor scenarios for levy options.","Thurston County budget staff on Aug. 27 told the Board of County Commissioners that five‑year projections show revenues flattening while expenditures rise, and that an estimated 25% reduction may be required for 2026 absent new revenue.",{"_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},6456154,"Commissioners approve sending Pac Mountain interlocal agreement to agenda after legal review",199,8249590,8448811,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693629-97d7bd629b980413fb6ea30deadc62f0&start=8249&end=8448","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693629-97d7bd629b980413fb6ea30deadc62f0/thumbnail_8249590.jpg","/articles/6456154/Thurston-County/Washington/Commissioners-approve-sending-Pac-Mountain-interlocal-agreement-to-agenda-after-legal-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456154-518fff3025138aad5da61c6e4885c42b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773577645&Signature=TqRbsQmGOG8rgkT81ppMh8LnlXtw7xmU-IUBeHpHoFGIItOIa7LoRf-JJY11rSykl4AB9TNbmTS89V5Ml6vw1556r0aizkEUeV484zxfwslOGDqWdu5pJBDeyYJn~JyHwytIwTnjX~bIFNnJXNNKMXP163dl4vDnAkSSRtquH1SxiAh7wwb5Ms1H~UzLMKUwlQiiYu2Vn78q3QNciu8lNYtJ2sHspnEQdiP3lP7wh3S6cp1pHZv6W8grZqQ2PGrkEH2gCvCGJbfP7bXFFF430x~L5eg-gKsxeZDIEichCkNfBZNlBh5qFzzhvQv3xS5UUHAI-xcaNWRSaWbC59gENg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thurston County commissioners on Aug. 27 directed staff to forward an interlocal agreement (ILA) with Pac Mountain Workforce Development Council to the board agenda after county legal review.

A staff packet included a draft ILA that staff described as an update to a long‑standing regional partnership among Thurston, Lewis, Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. Commissioners said the document reflects formatting and minor edits from the prior version and asked that the county attorney review it before final presentation.

One commissioner moved to process the ILA through the Agenda Information Sheet (AIS) and have legal clear the agreement; another commissioner seconded. After an ayes‑voice vote on the motion, staff said they would attempt to place the item on the board agenda for the Sept. 2 meeting so the board could take final action.

No substantive changes to the agreement were reported during the Aug. 27 discussion; staff said legal review and the normal AIS process would occur prior to any final approval.","The Board directed staff to process an interlocal agreement with Pac Mountain Workforce Development Council through the agenda (AIS) process and requested legal review; the board voted to forward the agreement to the Sept. 2 board meeting for final consideration","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Thurston County commissioners review new climate element for comprehensive plan

Thurston County budget team warns of widening general‑fund shortfall; commissioners discuss cuts and levy options

Commissioners approve sending Pac Mountain interlocal agreement to agenda after legal review