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Spokane County adopts $983 million 2026 budget, avoids county tax increase
Summary
The Spokane County Board of County Commissioners approved a $983 million all-funds 2026 budget and a corresponding resolution certifying 2025 tax levies for collection in 2026; budget-makers cut about 60 general-fund FTEs (mostly via attrition), prioritized detention and public-defense funding, and allocated one-time funds for Aumentum software and campus efficiency upgrades.
The Spokane County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Dec. 1 to adopt a $983,000,000 all-funds budget for calendar year 2026 and to update the county comprehensive plan's capital facilities element to align with the capital improvement plan.
Jeff McMorris, who led the budget presentation, said the county began the process early in March and asked agencies to trim approximately 7% of expenses to absorb inflationary pressures. He described an early projection of about a $20,000,000 structural gap that narrowed as sales taxes and new property assessed value came in stronger than first estimated. "You were seeing... a $20,000,000 gap that we've been talking about all year long," McMorris said. Sales-tax gains and new property on the rolls helped close part of the shortfall while the board prioritized…
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