Kittitas County commissioners approve REET 1 allocation for Lower County Transfer Station debt service

Kittitas County commissioners on July 28, 2025, voted 2-0 to allocate county Real Estate Excise Tax (REET 1) funds toward debt service for the Lower County Transfer Station. Commissioner Brett Wachsmith moved the measure, and Chairman Laura Osiadacz seconded.

The minutes record the motion as follows, attributed to Commissioner Brett Wachsmith: "to solidify a level of debt service for the Lower County Transfer Station utilizing the REET 1 (Real Estate Excise Tax First Quarter of a percent) funding stream at 152 of the debt service required for the duration of loan PC23-96103-132." The motion was recorded as carried 2-0.

The action commits a portion of REET 1 revenue to support repayment of loan PC23-96103-132 for the Lower County Transfer Station. Vice‑Chairman Cory Wright was listed as excused; both commissioners present voted in favor, producing a 2-0 tally as recorded in the minutes.

The minutes use the phrasing "at 152 of the debt service" in the motion text; the numeric expression in the minutes is unclear and not further explained in this record. The minutes do not provide additional detail about the exact percentage or fraction represented by "152," the total debt-service amount, or the fiscal schedule for applying REET 1 funds. Those specifics were not included in the scanned minutes and are listed in clarifying details as not specified.

No public comment or staff presentation about the transfer station loan or the fiscal mechanics of REET 1 was recorded in these minutes. The motion and vote are recorded as the formal action taken at the meeting.

Next procedural steps were not specified in the minutes; the record does not state whether the county will return with a staff report, budget amendment, or implementation timeline.