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Forks council reviews preliminary 2026 budget, flags jail revenue and street projects
Summary
At a Nov. 10 special session, the City of Forks reviewed a preliminary 2026 budget that staff said is largely shaped by grant funding; officials discussed potential losses in jail revenue if WSDOC changes housing rates and requested funds for a Russell Road bridge repair and streetlight replacements.
The City of Forks held a special City Council meeting on Nov. 10, 2025, to review the preliminary 2026 budget and hear staff explanations of notable line items. No formal budget votes were taken at the workshop.
Clerk/Treasurer Caryn ParynDaRe DePew walked councilmembers through the budget page by page and highlighted several items of significance, including allocations of $50,000 each in the Airport/Industrial and Quillayute Airport funds to replace a John Deere tractor and numerous grant-funded projects that account for much of the difference between the 2025 and 2026 proposed budgets.
Police Chief Rowley told the council that the Washington State Department of Corrections is considering housing work-release inmates at a rate higher than the City's standard, a change that could reduce the City’s jail revenue. Rowley also presented data on jail operating costs and the fiscal outcomes of eliminating the facility; when asked by Councilmember Coleman how long the jail could continue under current conditions, Rowley said it would operate "for as long as it can." The discussion did not include a formal decision to close or retain the jail.
Councilmember Wood asked whether the police department would need replacement vehicles in 2026; Police Chief Rowley said no and described how the department uses its current fleet.
Attorney/Planner Fleck reported on court system changes and cost pressures he learned about at the Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys conference. Fleck and Chief Rowley exchanged further information on how those changes could affect local operations and budgets.
Public Works Director Hampton requested that Streets funds be allocated next year to begin either replacing or shoring up the bridge over Mill Creek on Russell Road and to replace rotten streetlight poles. Hampton noted that most street projects have been funded primarily through grants.
The workshop included several brief staff-council exchanges on equipment repairs and other operational matters. Councilmember Soha moved to adjourn; Councilmember Wood seconded, the motion carried and Mayor Tim Fletcher adjourned the meeting at roughly 6:37 p.m.
Because this session was a budget workshop, councilmembers did not take formal votes to adopt the 2026 budget during the meeting; the items discussed were presented for council review and further action at subsequent budget proceedings.
