Spokane County continues 2026 budget roundtable; public urges restore medical examiner post and Extension funding

Spokane County commissioners continued a public hearing and roundtable on Oct. 14, 2025, to review the expenditure side of the 2026 preliminary budget. County budget staff presented a $266,300,000 revenue projection and a preliminary target expenditure rollup that reflects a flat-budget directive from the board and leaves roughly $6,700,000 of capacity against about $34,000,000 in departmental requests.

The presentation, given by county budget staff Jeff and Tessa, said the preliminary general-fund expenditure estimate is $259,600,000 and that the county faces a roughly $20,000,000 shortfall unless commissioners identify additional reductions or new ongoing revenue. “We are required at the county level just as at the state level to pass a balanced budget,” a staff member said during the presentation.

Why it matters: the justice and public-safety system accounts for the largest share of the general fund, and staffing reductions there could affect response, court operations and related services. The preliminary…