Cowlitz County proposes $5.3 million of department cuts as board seeks to narrow multi‑million shortfall

Cowlitz County officials on Monday outlined a plan to recover about $5.3 million from unused departmental appropriations as part of a broader effort to close a projected budget gap.

Sean, a county staff presenter, told the Board of Commissioners that the county’s 2026 budget shows about $61 million in revenues and $75.8 million in expenditures, producing a roughly $14.8 million shortfall. For 2027 he said known revenues are about $69 million, with $8.3 million in revenues still uncertain and expenditures near $79.5 million, leaving an estimated additional $5.1 million gap under current assumptions.

To reduce the shortfall, staff compared each department’s four‑year average of returned (unused) appropriations with the actual amount returned in 2025 and recommended using the lower of the two figures. Staff also removed one‑time capital costs and excluded internal service fees to focus on items department heads control. Sean said the process yielded an estimated net reduction of about $5.3 million and noted that medical‑plan changes produced additional savings the county could distribute back to departments.

“From there, we also looked at change in 25 to 26 budget…we found approximately $1.75 million in budget reductions,” Sean said, describing the methodology and timetable. He said staff would send reduction targets to department heads and elected officials, expect responses by mid‑May, and bring an amendment before the board by the end of May. Depending on conditions, he said the county may move to monthly or bimonthly amendments to keep budgets aligned with actual spending.

Sheriff Brad Thurman told commissioners the proposed cut to the sheriff’s office — which staff calculated at $873,000 under the method — exceeds that office’s four‑year average of returned funds (about $617,000). Thurman said the higher figure reflects a 2025 budget increase and roughly $110,000 in higher employee benefit costs and warned personnel reductions could be required if cuts are implemented.

“It would be a great example of coming in on a Tuesday afternoon for a workshop,” Thurman said, urging further discussion with staff and elected officials.

Commissioners said they supported sending the reduction plan to departments and holding workshops where necessary. One commissioner thanked staff for the transparent four‑year approach and emphasized the board’s intent to avoid layoffs and preserve services where possible.

Next steps: staff will distribute targets to department heads and return to the board with amendment proposals and, if departments object, schedule workshops to resolve disputes.