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Auditor flags document-preservation projects, DOL Forks closure and potential Secretary of State rule change affecting election billing
Summary
The auditor reported lower licensing revenue and a planned slowdown of a large imaging project in 2026, noted the Department of Licensing Forks office closed Sept. 5, and warned of a draft Secretary of State change to the formula for allocating election costs that could shift more expenses to counties and smaller taxing districts.
The county auditor briefed commissioners on several items that affect next year—s budget: changes in licensing revenue, phased document-imaging work and a potential state rule change that could alter how election costs are allocated.
Auditor staff said the auditor-related funds are projecting $1,382,351 in revenue for 2026, a decrease of $176,757 from the 2025 budget driven largely by election-services timing and lower-than-expected licensing receipts. The document preservation fund is budgeting $78,000 in revenue next year while imaging and records projects have been scaled to start more slowly than earlier planned; staff noted prior year spending included a large imaging push and that document-preservation dollars are restricted to permanent-record work.
Auditor staff also told commissioners the Department of Licensing site in Forks closed Sept. 5 after the only employee left for a new job; the county has collected the office inventory and is awaiting state direction on reopening a subagent site and the RFP timeline. Auditor staff said they expect some licensing activity to shift to Port Angeles while the subagent procurement is under way.
On elections, the auditor reported a draft change circulated by the Secretary of State that would alter the methodology used to allocate election and voter-registration costs across counties and junior taxing districts. Auditor staff warned the revised interpretation would materially increase billed shares for some small districts; staff said the change was still in draft form at the state and counties are monitoring the rule-writing process and preparing advocacy requests.
What was decided: Commissioners asked staff to follow up with Secretary of State contacts, notify relevant local taxing districts of the possible change, and bring back analysis of likely financial impacts.
Why it matters: Elections and licensing are meaningful revenue and cost drivers for county budgets and for local special districts. A change to the state's allocation methodology could create new costs for small districts and change the county—s billing to partners.
