Lewis County approves $3.38 million budget amendment, cites public defense costs

The Lewis County Board of Commissioners on June 23 approved a 2026 budget amendment that increases total county expenditures by $3,375,559 and revenues by $2,656,579. The motion to adopt resolution 26-201 passed unanimously during the board’s regular business meeting.

Becky Butler, identified in the meeting as the county’s budget director, told commissioners the amendment reflects changes since the hearing notice was published. "The notice reflected an increase in expenditures of 3,247,970 and an increase in revenue of $2,597,712," Butler said. "Subsequent changes resulted in an additional increase in expenditures of 127,589 and an increase in revenue of 58,867, bringing the total to an increase in expenditures of 3,375,559 and an increase in revenue of 2,656,579." She told the board the general fund portion of the amendment is an increase in expenditures of $316,383, "primarily due to public defense costs." Butler further explained that expenditures without an identified revenue source will be offset by fund balance from prior periods.

The board opened a brief question-and-answer period for staff, during which no members of the public posed questions, and then closed the hearing. A motion to approve resolution 26-201 was made and seconded; the chair announced the motion carried by unanimous vote.

The amendment as approved will allow staff to proceed with the expenditures reflected in the revised budget; Butler provided commissioners with a summary of the amendment during the meeting. No formal testimony was received during the hearing and commissioners did not request further revisions before voting.

What happens next: with the board’s approval, county departments may execute the budgeted expenditures and record the additional revenue and fund-balance offsets in the county’s financial system; staff will implement the changes according to county financial procedures.