Thurston County staff warn of multi‑year shortfalls; ask commissioners to consider pausing new general‑fund additions

Thurston County staff warned the Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 3 that projected revenue growth is not keeping pace with expenditures and asked the board to consider a motion next week to suspend new general‑fund additions for fiscal year 2025 while departments prepare reduction plans.

The request — presented at a commissioners check‑in by county staff including the planning manager and budget team — follows a forecast showing modest property‑tax growth, slow sales‑tax recovery and a one‑time jump in 2024 driven largely by interest earnings on bond proceeds. The package presented to the board estimates the county’s general fund at about $146–147 million, all other funds at about $530 million, and a combined total near $677 million.

County staff said the proposed motion would be similar to past biennial actions and would direct that no new positions, reclassifications or other additions that increase general‑fund expenditures be added to the 2025 budget unless already budgeted. "We'd like the board to consider a motion to suspend fiscal year 2025 request[s] from general fund additions, positions, or reclasses that have an additional general fund expenditure impact that have not already been budgeted for," the planning manager told commissioners.

Why it matters: staff said the county’s fund balance has declined and the budget office projects tight monthly cash positions in 2026. Staff flagged a…