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Thurston County directs manager to return after Q1 with 'grow-back' plan progress and impacts
Summary
After staff described a roughly $36 million structural deficit and limited near-term revenue upside, commissioners voted to have the county manager return at the end of the first quarter with a data-driven discussion on how, if revenues improve, previously approved reductions could be restored.
Thurston County commissioners voted during a Jan. 14 work session to direct the county manager to return after the first quarter with a discussion of next steps for a General Fund grow-back plan.
Summer Miller, the county’s budget and finance manager, recapped the 2025 budget-reduction process and said the county’s general-fund forecast reflected a projected structural deficit about $36,000,000 for fiscal 2026. Miller told the board that the county had conducted many engagements with departments and elected offices in 2025 and that staff prepared a template to document the operational impacts of reductions if the board wants to prioritize targeted restoration.
Staff emphasized that the county’s revenue forecast is not showing a material upside at this time; Miller and the county manager noted delays in final fiscal-year closes because of the TC Connect financial system transition and said the first-quarter results will give a clearer picture of any revenue to restore. The county manager recommended waiting a quarter and then meeting monthly on forecast updates.
On a motion from the dais, commissioners directed the county manager to come back at the end of the first quarter with a presentation of next steps, impact templates from departments and options for targeted restoration if revenue materializes. The board approved the motion by voice vote; the clerk recorded the outcome as “Aye” and the chair stated, “Motion carries.” Individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the public record.
Staff said next steps include sending a standardized template to departments and offices to document service impacts from cuts and then scheduling presentations so the board can evaluate priorities should revenues allow partial or full restoration of prior reductions.
