Clallam County administrator presents 2026 budget with five options to close gap; $1.93M shortfall remains after adjustments

Clallam County administrators and finance staff presented the administrator-recommended budget for fiscal year 2026 at the Oct. 6 work session and outlined a range of options to address a structural deficit.

Staff said the county's underlying fiscal pressure is largely driven by labor costs: salary and benefits account for roughly 71% of general fund expenditures and staff estimate year‑over‑year payroll and benefits growth of roughly $3.0 million to maintain current service levels. The finance team reported the preliminary 2026 shortfall at about $3.25 million, and said a combination of revenue updates, transfers and identified expenditure reductions reduced that gap to roughly $1.93 million in the administrator's recommended budget.

Revenue adjustments included a modest upward revision to…