Pacific County adopts balanced 2026 budget, shifts $1 million from roads and freezes new hiring

The Pacific County Board of Commissioners adopted the county’s fiscal year 2026 budget on Dec. 1, approving a package of related resolutions that commissioners said together preserve county services while addressing public-safety and staffing concerns.

Paul Blackinger, who presented the proposal, told the board the general current expense fund (Fund 001) is balanced at $18,455,432 in both estimated revenues and budgeted expenditures. "A balanced budget that is balanced without the utilization of fund balance," he said, calling the result "a good place to be," and noting the countywide total budget is about $54,900,000.

The package approved by the board included separate resolutions to authorize increases in general-purpose and road-district property tax levies (Resolutions 2025-066 and 2025-067), to shift $1,000,000 from the road fund levy into the general current expense fund (Resolution 2025-068), to freeze new county hiring pending board approval (Resolution 2025-069), and to create two internal service funds — Fund 504 for telecommunications and Fund 505 for information technology (Resolutions 2025-070 and 2025-071). The board then adopted the larger FY2026 budget resolution (Resolution 2025-072), which incorporates the 2026–2031 transportation and capital improvement programs and recognizes elected-official and judge salary adjustments in accordance with existing ordinance and state guidance.

Blackinger and several commissioners emphasized the county’s comparative financial position. He said Pacific County is one of five Washington counties the State Auditor has judged to be in good financial health and that federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds—"over $4,300,000," he said—were used strategically to offset public-safety costs. "We largely utilize those funds to offset public safety costs in this county," Blackinger said.

On jail services, Blackinger relayed recommendations from an independent medical adviser following unexpected fatality reviews: round-the-clock nursing staff or health-professional coverage at least five weekdays a week; immediate transport for inmates meeting defined medical criteria to higher-care facilities; and, if the county cannot meet the recommendations, consideration of closing the facility or contracting for housing. "These aren't opinions... These are formal recommendations that have been made to the legislative body of this county by an independent medical examiner," Blackinger said.

During discussion of the hiring-freeze resolution, Blackinger clarified how the policy reads: "All hiring, regardless of the position's budget status, whether vacant or new, must receive the board of Pacific County Commissioners' approval prior to any employment posting and or any advertisement for hiring." The board approved that resolution by voice vote.

Commissioners and staff also highlighted department-level surpluses and investments that helped the county reach a balanced budget. Blackinger said Public Health & Human Services (Fund 118) is projected to be about $568,000 in the black for FY26, and he praised work by department heads across public works, community development and other offices. He credited treasurer and investment decisions for improved investment income.

Votes on the resolutions were taken by voice; each motion was seconded and approved on the record. The board adopted Resolution 2025-072 to finalize the FY2026 budget, and the chair adjourned the special meeting at 10:52 a.m. The next regular meeting was scheduled for Dec. 9.

What’s next: Resolutions take effect as provided in the county’s rules for implementation; commissioners noted salary changes for elected officials will follow thresholds set by Ordinance 190 and the state Citizens' Commission for Salaries for Elected Officials (RCW 36.17.020 references were discussed). Any implementation steps, such as creating the new internal service funds or board review of hiring requests, will go through the county finance and administration processes.