Yakima County budget director frames 2026 work around stabilizing general fund and targeting criminal justice and public safety costs

Yakima County finance staff on Aug. 12 outlined a planning approach for the 2026 budget that prioritizes short-term tactics to stabilize the general fund while buying time to pursue longer-term structural solutions.

Brian Carlson, who led the presentation to the Board of Yakima County Commissioners, proposed a draft mission statement for the 2026 budget process: 'to develop short term tactics that will enable the development and implementation of long term structural solutions for general fund sustainability.' Carlson said the process will emphasize a series of 'families' of departments and that the first and largest family to review will be Criminal Justice and Public Safety (CJPS).

Carlson told the board CJPS accounts for roughly $112 million in countywide expense, with more than $50 million of that in general-fund accounts and personnel costs representing the largest share. Carlson also highlighted internal service billings that affect CJPS,…