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County manager reviews 2025 priorities and flags $3M county share for courthouse seismic work
Summary
At the Jan. 12 retreat staff reviewed 2025 accomplishments and 2026 priorities, including facilities updates and an anticipated courthouse seismic project that carries a $1.5 million state reimbursement and an estimated $3 million county share up front; staff also discussed a possible $1.8 million governor’s budget amendment to buy the Compass Health building.
County staff used the Jan. 12 San Juan County Council retreat to review accomplishments from 2025 and to lay out near-term capital and budget priorities for 2026.
County Manager (speaker 3) told the council that the county is “slated to receive 1,500,000.0” in legislative funding to reimburse half of the courthouse seismic project but cautioned that the county must initially cover roughly $3,000,000 as its share and that bids may come back higher than earlier estimates. “We were right on the cusp of being funded at the end of last year's legislative session,” the manager said about prior funding efforts, and staff said consultants had substantially completed initial assessments and that bidding was anticipated in late January or early February.
Staff also noted the governor’s proposed budget amendments include about $1,800,000 to give to Compass Health to buy the building the county currently owns and leases to Compass Health; staff said the county would welcome such a sale but were awaiting formal interest or letters from the buyer.
HR and administrative items were also briefed: staff reported a compensation study and classification work in progress for exempt staff, that collective bargaining with AFSCME wrapped up Dec. 29, and that bargaining with the Sheriff's Guild would likely begin later in the year. Staff described plans to move HR training onto a lower-cost platform and to continue quarterly budget amendments and financial reviews.
Staff told the council they will continue to monitor project bids and budget pressures and will return with updated cost estimates and timelines as procurement proceeds.
