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Clallam County commissioners approve 1% levy increases for general fund and roads; conservation futures held at 0%
Summary
Following public hearings, the board approved a 1% increase in the general-purpose property tax levy and a 1% increase in the road-fund levy for 2026; the conservation futures levy will remain unchanged.
The Clallam County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 25 approved three levy resolutions affecting 2026 property-tax collections: a 1% increase for the general-purpose levy, a 1% increase for the roads fund levy, and no increase for the conservation-futures levy.
County staff (speaker 5) told the board that the county's total assessed value supporting the general-purpose levy stands at about $17.2 billion, a 3.9% increase over the prior year, and that staff recommended exercising the 1% levy lid increase for the general fund. Staff provided an estimated additional levy amount of $126,331 and said that when new construction and other adjustments are included, the general-fund increase would translate to approximately $240,243 in additional revenue.
For the roads fund, staff recommended the 1% levy increase, which the CFO estimated would equal about $85,029.53, and noted that the road fund is heavily relied upon for routine maintenance of roughly 485–490 miles of county roads. For the conservation futures fund, staff recommended a 0% increase, consistent with recent practice.
The board opened and closed a public hearing on the levies and then moved to adopt the resolutions. Commissioners discussed the limits of county revenue growth, insurance cost pressures, and the challenges rural counties face in funding services. Each resolution was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; the transcript records the board saying "aye" and that each motion passed.
Public response at the hearing included residents asking for clarity about how assessed values, new construction and levy rates interact, and some speakers argued the county should pursue alternative funding mechanisms for roads to spread costs more fairly.
What happens next: staff will incorporate the adopted levy amounts into the 2026 budget and report on expected revenue and impacts in budget documents and future briefings.
