Spokane County staff outline budget amendments including $38M ARP‑backed contracts and $11.8M PO rollovers

Spokane County staff on Oct. 20 reviewed a packet of 2025 budget amendments that will be posted for preliminary public notice and scheduled for a final public hearing in two weeks, outlining a range of appropriations across the general fund and other funds.

The packet includes appropriations supported by restricted fees, grants and prior ARP (American Rescue Plan) contracts; staff and commissioners discussed amounts, sources and next steps for each line item.

Key items spelled out in the staff presentation included: $320,000 from elections’ due‑fee balance for sorter equipment; $14,404 in revenue from Washington State University Extension for fence replacement at the extension facility; the sheriff’s office appropriation of $10,000 from a deputy traffic due fee for a dry box container and $1,400,000 in revenue from the city of Spokane Valley to cover costs associated with 10 additional deputies; $10,000 from the Parks Foundation to support a summer quack‑sponsorship program; and $10,000 in animal‑control donations to repair kennels.

Staff described a $38,000,000 non‑departmental appropriation composed of funds that originated in ARP contracts and that became general‑fund balance in 2024; staff said those amounts are being re‑appropriated to honor the formerly ARP‑funded agreements. Other fund items included $4,300,000 in a housing and community development fund balance adjustment to account for program income and awards received in 2024; a $14,200,000 revenue award to the developmental disabilities fund (described as a state award missed in the original budget); $7,500,000 in stormwater fund appropriations for capital equipment and stormwater activities shifted from the road fund; $110,000 increase to parks capital projects to support the Airway Heights ORB project; approximately $20,000,000 of state and local grant awards appropriated into the state and local grant fund; $167,000 in information‑technology fund unanticipated revenues; and $11,800,000 of purchase‑order rollovers from 2024 to 2025, largely for the sheriff’s helicopter and an IT ERP project.

Staff said the amendments are scheduled for preliminary public posting and a final public hearing on Nov. 4 and that the items reflect funds received or contracts signed after the original 2025 budget was adopted. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the state and local grants fund, and staff described grant tracking in Workday and the process for creating separate award budgets per grant. Staff said several items bring fund budgets in line with awards accepted during 2024 and provide expenditure authority for those awards.

No formal votes were taken during the review; staff will present the packet again for public posting and the November hearing.