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Cowlitz County adopts second-quarter budget amendments; finance director to dissolve purchasing-services fund
Summary
Following a public hearing, the Board of Commissioners approved a set of budget adjustments for fiscal 2025 that reallocated funds across departments, added revenue and expense lines for Human Services programs, and dissolved the purchasing-services fund.
Cowlitz County commissioners held a public hearing and voted to adopt a set of fiscal 2025 budget amendments that adjust general-fund balances, add revenue and expense authorizations for several departments, and dissolve the county's purchasing-services fund.
Kathy Funk Baxter, the county's finance director, presented the amendment package, explaining the purchasing-services fund (which had supported a county print shop and mail services) was no longer needed and should be closed. She also summarized the largest adjustments affecting the general fund: a $142,482 reduction in ending fund balance tied to three main items, including the sheriff's request for additional security personnel, alarm upgrades to an evidence room, and added vehicle IT costs totaling $114,005.79; an additional $30,227 in the office of public defense for extra-help staffing and travel; and a $46,000 increase for coroner services to purchase additional cameras and forensics assistance. The museum requested $22,000 to replace a nonfunctional electronic sign; parks requested $10,000 for summer help; and striping related to ARPA-funded parks work was listed at $29,006.36 with ARPA revenue offsetting that cost.
Baxter said the county is also adjusting revenues upward by about $80,139 based on grants and ARPA funds and noted a $153,351 insurance recovery that adds revenue and recognizes completed work at the Annex building. For special-revenue funds, Human Services will transition several grant revenues (including six months of funding for the CJTA treatment program) to a new fund; the CJTA portion was listed as $1,257,002.64 and corresponding expenditures were added.
The board opened the hearing for public comment; a member of the public asked clarifying questions about a $5,400 meals-and-lodging amendment for the Office of Public Defense, which Baxter confirmed covered training-related expenses. With no other public testimony the board closed the hearing and approved the amendments by voice vote.
Ending: The finance director will implement the approved transfers and contract-authority adjustments; staff indicated further amendments could follow later in the fiscal year if contracted services (for example, security extensions) are or are not executed.
