Board briefed on state revenue shortfall, transportation proposal and multiple county funding priorities

Washington County government relations staff briefed the board on the latest state revenue forecast, the ways and means outlook and a set of priority funding requests and policy bills as the legislature moves toward final decisions.

Pablo Nieves Valenzuela, government relations manager, said the legislature’s final revenue forecast reduced available general fund resources by about $756 million and reduced lottery funds by about $42 million compared with the previous forecast — a combined roughly $790 million in smaller flexible resources for lawmakers to spend. "That means that there's a total of $790,000,000 less in the funds that the legislature has the most flexibility in appropriating," Pablo told the board.

Staff reviewed justice and public safety budget items. The county is tracking HB 5004 (community corrections) with an ask in the $320–$340 million neighborhood and is advocating to preserve funding for juvenile crime prevention and specialty courts. The county joined a coalition seeking an $11.5 million increase for county law libraries and is monitoring jail‑based medication for opioid use disorder, which has a smaller funding level in the governor’s recommended budget than when created in 2024. Staff said they are supporting current service level funding where possible and continue to press for targeted increases where there is a coalition and policy leverage.

On housing and capital investments, Carly Silver Gabrielson said the county is supporting several housing‑focused asks including a proposed Affordable Housing Preservation fund ($293 million request in the lottery bond package) and a Housing Infrastructure Fund ($100 million) to help pay for infrastructure tied to housing production. The county also has three capital requests with legislative sponsors: courthouse replacement planning ($1.25 million), a Scoggins Valley Park visitor center matching request ($1.7 million) and a $15 million phase 1B ask for fairgrounds improvements.

Erin Calvert (assistant county administrator) updated the board on Scoggins Dam: she said federal Bureau of Reclamation staff informed local project beneficiaries the agency intends to drop the larger structural project as previously proposed and instead pursue spillway improvements. Calvert said a nonstructural approach or reduced reservoir would have halved the amount of water available for clean water services and raised temperature concerns; she said the county and its federal delegation are continuing to evaluate next steps.

Tracy Riney and Clean Water Services staff summarized water‑sector priorities: Senate Bill 5520 (DEQ budget) maintained current service levels in a subcommittee action; county advocates are pressing to retain a water reuse coordinator position funded in the prior session (HB 2169 carries that funding ask) and are seeking funding for PFAS biosolids study work and a low‑income septic loan program and water/sewer rate assistance. The county is also tracking a package of transportation reinvestment proposals and a new "cap and invest" or cap‑and‑trade revenue concept being discussed by a joint committee; initial bill language (anticipated as HB 2025) was expected the week after the briefing with public hearings scheduled in early June.

Staff cautioned that the revenue shortfall reduces the pool of funds for proposed increases and that many asks will face intense scrutiny in ways and means. The county's government relations team said it will continue to advocate for priority projects and keep the board advised; staff asked board members to be available for targeted advocacy if needed as the session progresses.