Okanogan County commissioners told department heads the county faces a substantial budget gap — roughly $2.4 million as presented in September — and instructed managers to prepare for early, detailed budget meetings to identify reductions and priorities.

Why it matters: commissioners said rising wages, increased equipment and fuel costs, and higher mandated salaries are widening the gap between revenues and expenditures. They warned services could be reduced if new revenue is not found or if budget lines are not restructured.

Details: commissioners described the shortfall as largely the result of expense increases rather than a sudden loss of revenue. They noted carryover funds (unspent funds from prior years) have declined and cited state mandates that raise employer costs (for example, higher thresholds for exempt employees and minimum‑wage increases since 2012). The finance committee will review revenue assumptions and each department was told to attend early budget sessions to explain what could be cut and how to maintain essential services.

Priority setting and examples: officials repeatedly said public safety would be treated as a top priority when making decisions about cuts. They discussed hard choices such as the trade‑off between funding a drug task force and keeping sheriff deputies on patrol. County staff were told to prepare worst‑case and mitigated budget scenarios, and commissioners signaled a preference for placing proposed levies or ballot measures to voters rather than imposing uncapped local tax increases.

Next steps: departments will be summoned for budget review meetings starting earlier than usual; the finance committee will audit revenue estimates and present options for balancing the budget. Commissioners indicated they may pursue legislative funding, grants, or voter‑approved measures as part of a multi‑year approach to stabilize county finances.