Franklin County commissioners voted to certify the 2026 taxes levied by local taxing districts, including cities, fire districts, ports and hospital and educational service districts, during a final budget hearing that also aired concerns about Port of Pasco land purchases and tax-increment financing (TIF) that reduces county revenue.

The motion to certify the levies passed on a voice vote after an extended discussion of large levy amounts filed by several taxing districts. County Assessor John Rosenow explained that the assessor's office will validate requests and limit levies to statutory maxima if necessary; he noted that some entities had submitted rounded amounts (for example Port of Pasco at $4.6 million on preliminary paperwork) and that his office would hold certified amounts to the lesser of what a district is legally allowed to levy or what it requested.

Commissioners pressed the assessor and auditor for clarity on how levies affect taxpayers and asked that the county publish the certified levy schedules on the county website so residents can see the breakdown of where property-tax dollars are requested to go. Several commissioners singled out Port of Pasco for criticism, saying its recent farmland purchases appear to be affecting local property values and the county tax base; the board received assessor estimates that combined TIF programs for port and city projects will divert about $372,000 from the county tax base this year.

On TIFs, the board discussed bond sizes (city Broadmoor bond near $39 million; Port projects with bonds slightly above $8 million) and how the redevelopment financing can lock in diverted revenue for decades (typical TIF windows of 2025 years). Assessor staff said the port projected faster payback in some cases but emphasized that TIFs reduce the county's share of new revenues while the TIF remains in place.

The vote to certify levies was procedural but consequential: county staff warned that if the board failed to act by the statutory certification deadline, affected taxing districts would receive no levy funding through the county collection process. The board certified the levies and directed the auditor and assessor to post details publicly and to follow up where certifications exceed statutory limits.

What happens next: certified levies will be applied by the assessor for collection; the county will publish levy schedules and pursue clarity from taxing districts (the ports and selected districts) about their budgets and capital plans. Commissioners said they would encourage residents to attend port and district meetings if they are concerned about local levies or land-purchase policies.