Cowlitz County reviews $3.1M facilities budget and five‑year capital plan as REET rules loosen

Cowlitz County commissioners heard details of the public services facilities maintenance budget and a five‑year capital plan that staff say will require choices to avoid a projected shortfall.

Mike Moss, public services director, opened the presentation and introduced the facilities maintenance crew that services roughly 30 county buildings — about a half‑million square feet of space. "We're doing a team effort today to talk about the 26 20 27 facilities budget," he said, laying out staffing and operational coverage.

Sean (budget staff) told commissioners the 2026 facilities maintenance account is budgeted at $3,100,000. "Just shy of a million of that is labor and benefits," he said, and supplies and services make up the remainder: roughly $137,000 for supplies and about $2,000,000 for services such as utilities, insurance and repairs.

The staff presentation also described the county's capital reserve funding: about $1 million per year in real‑estate excise tax (REET) revenue, a $1 million annual general fund transfer and nearly $73,000 a year…