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Okanogan County adopts 2025 spending plan, authorizes chair to make timely financial moves
Summary
The board adopted the 2025 budget and approved near-term transfers and administrative authority to let the BOCC chair, auditor and treasurer make time-sensitive financial decisions (to be ratified later). Commissioners also scheduled a $75,000 transfer to probation in early January to avoid payroll shortfalls.
Okanogan County commissioners adopted the county's 2025 budget and agreed steps to protect payroll and urgent financial transactions, approving a motion to authorize the chair to make timely financial decisions together with the auditor and treasurer.
The treasurer, Pam Johnson, told the board that the county's money market was earning 4.63% and that the finance office had completed entry of the 2025 budgets (Pam Johnson, Treasurer). Commissioners agreed that staff should prepare and circulate a confirming email about budget transfers; they identified a planned $75,000 transfer to probation that likely must occur in early January so the department can meet payroll.
Commissioner discussion focused on process and safeguards. A motion to authorize the chair to act on "timely financial matters" alongside the auditor and treasurer was moved, seconded and approved; the board specified that such actions would be ratified at the next full meeting. Commissioners stressed they expect such authorizations to be used rarely and to be documented in minutes so that any retroactive budget adjustments are transparent.
Separately, staff reported questions about opioid settlement receipts and whether prior expenditures could be retroactively allocated to newly received opioid funds. Commissioners directed staff to track the year-by-year deposits and, where appropriate, submit proposals to reclassify or reimburse eligible expenditures.
The board approved the consent agenda and then voted to approve vouchers and payroll totaling $1,545,484.23. Other routine actions included a letter of support for the PUD's broadband fiber project and the adoption of a Lake Management District budget. The board recessed to an executive session later in the meeting under the cited RCW provision before returning to finish votes.
