Kathy Funk Baxter, Cowlitz County finance director, and Shelley Pierce, county risk manager, presented year‑to‑date figures showing the risk management fund is generally on target for 2025 but faces higher liability costs next year.

Pierce told commissioners the county received 2026 risk pool invoices on Nov. 25 and said liability costs increased about 45% year‑over‑year. The transcript records an invoice total read as $33,916,345,000; county staff acknowledged that figure in the meeting transcript but it appears to be a transcription or reporting error and requires verification. Pierce also reported 73 total incidents this year with 31 workers’ compensation claims, total paid to date around $48,689 and an average claim amount in the low thousands.

Kathy Funk Baxter said the risk management fund’s revenue lines—internal billings and investment income—are slightly over budget and that one open position will remain unfilled for now, with commissioners’ office staff and HR covering capacity where feasible.

On liability claims, staff said payments for annex flood repairs are still pending and expected in January; a late expense submission has been processed and the county expects a 45‑day turnaround from the risk pool for reimbursement followed by the pool’s subrogation or vendor recovery process.

Shelley Pierce also announced operational changes with Northwest Enforcement: beginning Jan. 2026, the county will no longer have a dedicated security presence at the Administration Building, HHS, event center and museum. Security for the Hall of Justice, juvenile and corrections facilities will remain under contract, and Northwest Enforcement said it would redeploy officers to other county sites when available.

Pierce previewed a January rollout of a new learning management system (Vector Solutions) and upcoming CPR training for staff in early 2026.

The board did not take a final vote on any of the risk items during the session; reimbursements and final 2026 risk pool charges remain subject to reconciliation and follow‑up by staff.