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Clallam County budget shortfall driven higher by indigent defense and insurance costs; payroll underspend narrows gap
Summary
County staff told commissioners on Nov. 4 that a spike in indigent defense costs tied to new public‑defender contracts and rising county risk pool expenses are pushing the general‑fund gap higher for 2026, though an underspend in payroll so far this year reduces the net deficit.
Clallam County officials said Tuesday that indigent defense and insurance costs will be the largest drivers of pressure on the 2026 general fund budget. Staff presented updated revenue and expenditure projections that show higher projected spending for public defense and a recent rise in county insurance allocations.
Rebecca, a staff member who led the presentation, said the county is projecting an $811,000 increase in indigent defense costs for 2026. "We had entered into new contracts earlier this year," she said, "and they came in higher than what we had estimated — partially a catch‑up and partially the impacts of the new…
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