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Washoe County manager warns of tightening revenues, schedules public demo of WASHO Checkbook
Summary
County Manager Eric Brown told the Warren Springs Rural Citizen Advisory Board that Washoe County faces flattening sales-tax revenues and will prioritize seniors, mental health and infrastructure in 2025; the county will launch an online budget transparency tool, WASHO Checkbook, with a public demonstration March 25.
Washoe County Manager Eric Brown told the Warren Springs Rural Citizen Advisory Board on March 12, 2025, that the county faces a tightening revenue outlook in 2025 and will focus available funds on existing priorities such as services for seniors, behavioral health and infrastructure.
Brown said the county has a healthy fund balance — about $54,000,000 as of June — and a structurally balanced budget today, but warned that federal and state COVID-era funding is drying up and that sales-tax revenues have flattened. "2025 is gonna be a year, where we, we know we're facing tightening revenues," Brown said.
Why it matters: Brown said the county must limit new programs and manage personnel costs, because employee compensation accounts for roughly three-quarters of operating expenses. "Employee compensation cost for our employees is 75% of our operating expense," he said, and the county has negotiated multi‑year labor agreements to provide some predictability on wages and benefits.
Brown described steps to increase transparency and public engagement on the budget. The county will launch an online Open Checkbook platform called WASHO Checkbook on March 25, with a public demonstration and a budget "101" workshop. Brown said the tool will let residents review spending and staffing details without needing to parse formal budget documents: "You'll be able to see that. We're launching that, March 25 in a couple of weeks. There's gonna be a workshop in chambers."
The county manager said Washoe has so far maintained a favorable bond rating and completed a clean audit, which could lower borrowing costs if the county issues bonds during tighter revenue periods. He also said department heads have been told not to expect additional personnel or special projects beyond priorities set by the Board of County Commissioners.
Looking ahead, Brown said budget discussions will continue with the commission as staff develops recommendations for how to sustain core services amid the less‑favorable revenue outlook. The county will present the WASHO Checkbook demonstration and continue budget briefings to the public.
