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Officials warn cuts to Thurston County law-and-justice budget would reduce services and risk legal challenges
Summary
At a Thurston County public hearing, court leaders, the county clerk and prosecutor's office warned proposed cuts to the 2026–27 law-and-justice budget would force service reductions, including reduced clerk hours and fewer prosecutions, and could lead to lawsuits; the sheriff said recent public-safety sales tax revenue eased staffing pressures.
Thurston County commissioners heard urgent warnings during a public hearing that proposed reductions in the law-and-justice portion of the county's 2026'27 biennial budget could force cuts to court and public-safety services and prompt legal challenges. Judges, the county clerk and the prosecutor's office told the board they face staffing shortfalls and program reductions if requested funding is not preserved.
The comments came at the hearing's law-and-justice segment, opened by Chair Ty Menzer at 10:05 a.m. Summer Miller, the county's budget and fiscal manager, summarized requests from the clerk, coroner, district and superior courts, the prosecuting attorney, the sheriff and public defense. Miller said the submissions include proposals to extend ARPA-funded positions, add limited FTEs for court services, shift a pathologist budget into autopsy…
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