Cowlitz County finance staff warn of rising insurance assessments, plan budget amendments and public hearing

Finance staff updated the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on multiple risk-management funds, workers' compensation and liability claims and near-term budget actions during the county's regular meeting.

Finance Director Kathy Funk Baxter said staff had already paid a 12-month insurance premium and will make an additional stub-year payment in April so the county's billing aligns with a January–December calendar year. Finance Manager Susie Moon said, "At the beginning of every year, risk management will bill the various departments for insurance charges." Moon said the county has received just over $3,000,000 in internal service billings so far this year and about $4,300 in miscellaneous revenue (data pulled through March).

Moon told commissioners the county paid roughly $2,000,000 at the start of the year toward the pool premium and then will pay three months’ coverage this month for the stub year rather than being charged for 15 months. She said the county will not have further cash outflows for the risk pool until January 2026, when new assessments will be billed.

Moon said pool officials warned of possible assessment increases and that the county expects notices in October 2025 with payments due in January…