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Newman Lake flood control district proposes capital replacement fund and no assessment increase for 2026
Summary
District staff reported the Newman Lake Flood Control District's 2026 budget would keep assessments flat, add a capital replacement fund of about $5,048,000 annually, include potential surface alum treatment of about $80,000 and cover an upcoming state audit cost of roughly $10,000.
County water program staff presented the Newman Lake Flood Control District’s proposed 2026 budget Tuesday and told commissioners the district’s board voted to approve the budget at its Sept. 9 advisory-board meeting. Derek Vollars, a water program project manager, said the district is not proposing an increase in assessments for 2026 and plans to continue its existing water-quality monitoring, milfoil control and flood-control operations.
Vollars said the budget adds a capital replacement fund intended to accumulate money for major future equipment or system replacement so the district will not rely solely on large grants. He stated the capital replacement contribution is about $5,048,000 annually and will go into the fund balance. The draft budget also includes a line for a possible surface alum treatment at about $80,000 (approximately 25% of the water-quality budget), and staff said the district is not yet certain it will use that treatment; if implemented, the fund balance would decrease and the district could reconsider assessments in 2027.
Vollars also noted the district recently completed a state audit that produced no findings but that the state will conduct another audit covering 2024–2025; the district expects an additional audit-related cost of about $10,000, which staff said is not yet reflected in the presented slides. Staff recommended setting a public hearing date for budget adoption (proposed to set the public hearing date for Sept. 23 with the public hearing on Oct. 14) and said the district will hold an open-house presentation for the community on Sept. 30.
No formal county board action on the district budget was recorded at the briefing; staff presented the district’s budget and schedule for public hearings and community outreach.
