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Cowlitz County commissioners approve second-quarter budget amendments, adjust public-safety and facilities lines
Summary
At a public hearing, the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners approved a set of second-quarter budget amendments that reallocated funds across public safety, public defense, coroner services, parks and special revenue funds and recognized an insurance recovery for Annex building repairs.
Cowlitz County commissioners approved a second-quarter amendment to the 2025 county budget after a public hearing and no public comment.
Finance Director Kathy Funk Baxter told the Board the package reduces the general fund ending balance by $142,482 and reassigns funding across a series of departments to cover near-term needs. “The sheriff’s office is requesting to amend their contract with our security services to provide one additional security personnel for the courtroom that's in the jail, and they’re also needing to install a fire alarm in one of their evidence rooms,” Funk Baxter said, summarizing the largest items.
The amendment increases budget capacity for several public-safety and county operational items. The sheriff’s adjustments, including contract security, equipment and vehicle IT charges, total $114,005.79. The Office of Public Defense received a net increase of $30,227 to cover extra temporary help and travel and lodging for training. The coroner’s office added $15,000 for extra help and $46,000 for interior and exterior security cameras. The county museum received $22,000 to replace a nonoperational electronic message board on Allen Street. Parks requested $10,000 for additional summer help and approximately $29,006.36 in striping work that will be covered by ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds, Funk Baxter said.
Funk Baxter also described a larger reorganization of human-services revenues: the county is transitioning certain grant-funded programs into a special revenue fund, including six months of revenue for a criminal-justice treatment program (listed in the presentation as $1,257,002.64) and related expenses. An insurance recovery for repairs already completed at the Annex building—$153,351—was added to revenue and expense lines.
Commissioners opened the hearing for public comment; none was offered. A motion to approve the amendments passed on voice vote.
Why this matters: the package shifts funding to immediate operational needs—security for court functions, forensic support, and facilities repairs—while moving some grant activity between county funds to align accounting for programs. County staff said some increases are capacity placeholders that can be reduced later if contractual decisions change.
Other details from the hearing: Commissioners asked whether the sheriff’s security contract extension was final; Funk Baxter said the budget amendment simply provides capacity and, if the county elects not to extend, staff will return with a reducing amendment in a later quarter. On the Office of Public Defense request, Funk Baxter said “Extra Help” denotes nonregular, temporary personnel brought in as needed. Commissioners also heard that some revenue increases reflect grant and ARPA receipts and interpreter-reimbursement adjustments in district court.
Looking ahead: Funk Baxter said staff will continue monitoring contracts and will bring further amendments if actual decisions differ from the capacity set by this amendment. The Board moved promptly to its other scheduled items following the vote.
