The Board of Island County Commissioners on Aug. 5, 2025, approved Amendment No. 2 to a contract with the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (contract 305E22‑102) that adds $420,000 over two years to fund an additional veteran service officer (VSO) for Island County.

County staff told commissioners the additional VSO will provide information, referrals and claims assistance to veterans and their families. “Since we initially received this contract, in 2022, our veteran service officers assisted veterans and their families in accessing over $7,000,000 in benefits,” a county human services staff member said during the meeting.

Staff said the county’s current VSO has a waiting list and that the new position should reduce wait times and expand capacity to help veterans file claims and navigate benefits, including financial entitlements and connections to other services. The amendment was described as the result of state legislative action and departmental administration; staff said they are coordinating pay‑period and onboarding details with state contacts.

Commissioners approved the contract amendment by voice vote. The motion extended the existing VSO contract for two years and added the funding to hire or fund an additional VSO assigned to Island County.