Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Thurston County Transportation Benefit District ratifies 2026 officers, accepts 2025 report as resident urges dissolution
Loading...
Summary
The Thurston County Transportation Benefit District ratified officer assignments for 2026 and accepted its 2025 annual report, which staff said showed no funded projects and about $1,215 in liabilities; resident John Pettit urged the board to dissolve the district, saying it has never had a project and citing state law.
Thurston County — The Thurston County Transportation Benefit District on March 17 ratified its 2026 officer assignments and accepted the district's 2025 annual report, and a resident urged trustees to dissolve the district during public comment.
John Pettit of Rich Road told the board the TBD "has never had a project" and urged the trustees to eliminate the district under state law if there is no project for which to collect or spend revenue. Pettit also alleged the county had diverted "over $50,000,000" to road-related balances over the years; the board did not substantively address that figure during the meeting.
Karen Reese, Thurston County Public Works director, presented the TBD's 2025 annual report and said the district "is not funded" and that staff had "no projects to report" for 2025. Reese told trustees the district held one meeting in 2025 and incurred "just under $1,215 in expenditures or liabilities"; she asked the board to accept the report and direct staff to post its availability in the newspaper of record.
The board moved and approved a resolution to ratify the officer assignments the board of county commissioners had identified for 2026 and separately moved to accept the 2025 annual report and direct staff to publish notice of its availability. Members approved both items by voice vote; the meeting record includes voice votes only and does not list a roll-call tally.
During discussion members noted that the question of dissolving the TBD is raised periodically. Staff said they would provide a refresher on the legal position when Jennifer Walker is available. The board adjourned at about 5:21 p.m.
What the meeting recorded - Actions taken: ratification of 2026 officer assignments; acceptance of the 2025 annual report and direction to staff to post notice of availability. - Outstanding claim: John Pettit's assertion the district has "never had a project" and his citation of state law requiring dissolution if no project exists; staff committed to follow up but did not resolve the legal question at the meeting.
