Thurston County commissioners approve preliminary 2024–25 budget amendment package; 3‑2 vote excludes some off‑cycle requests

Thurston County commissioners voted May 28 to advance a 2024–25 budget amendment package that includes capital requests, maintenance needs and selected policy requests flagged by staff as backed by revenue or previously authorized. Commissioners approved the package in a 3‑2 vote after a brief, sometimes heated exchange about staffing and the county’s TC Connect implementation.

Summer Miller, the county’s budget and finance manager, presented the amendment as a “preliminary to final decision” review and said staff would publish the package for the public notice period before bringing a resolution to adopt the amendment on June 17. Miller said the amendment contains items staff labeled with color codes: yellow highlights indicate items backed by revenue, green indicates previously approved or mandated items, and pink indicates off‑cycle items with no revenue backing.

After questions and discussion, a commissioner moved and seconded a motion to approve the policy requests designated in green, yellow and white and to exclude those marked in pink. The board debated a proposed amendment to the motion to add one senior position for the auditor’s office (funded for one year to assist with the TC Connect implementation). The amendment failed on a voice vote; the underlying motion to advance the green, yellow and white items then passed 3‑2.

Commissioners expressed differing priorities during the debate. Supporters of adding the auditor position urged immediate help for the auditor and IT offices to complete TC Connect, citing operational risk, staff turnover and service delays. Opponents argued the county should await a holistic assessment of TC Connect needs and avoid adding to the general fund structural deficit during mid‑year amendments.

The budget team also briefed the board on a specific debt‑service issue tied to the county’s detention sales tax fund. Staff proposed transferring the debt service for a detention sales‑tax bond to the general fund and having the detention sales tax repay the general fund over time (staff suggested a 10‑ to 12‑year payback). Budget staff said the detention sales tax fund is operating with a negative cash balance and could face audit findings if the debt payment is not reallocated; bond counsel and advisors reviewed the structure and, according to staff, found no legal or market obstacles to the proposed transfer and repayment approach. Commissioners asked staff to provide the legal verification in writing.

Miller and the budget team asked the board for direction so staff could publish the proposed amendment in the local paper and proceed with the two‑week public notice period required before the adoption resolution. The board gave direction to advance the capital requests and maintenance requests unanimously and to move the green/yellow/white policy items forward by the 3‑2 vote.

No final appropriation changes were adopted at the work session; staff will return with a resolution for formal adoption on June 17 after the public notice period.