Franklin County approves $250,000 transfer to HAPO Center to reimburse capital improvements

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously July 8 to transfer $250,000 from the county's 0.09 public facilities fund to the HAPO Center operating account to reimburse completed capital improvements.

County Administrator Mister Danzel introduced the request as a follow‑up to a funding packet and correspondence, saying staff had been working to reconcile accounts and that a clerk had a draft resolution ready if the board wished to proceed. Danzel also said auditors and HAPO representatives had been asked to provide more detailed analysis before a final true‑up.

HAPO Center representatives told the board the capital projects had already been completed and paid for from the center's operating cash under the expectation the county would reimburse those expenditures. Mike McCall, an HAPO representative, said, "We've tripled the revenues. We've tripled the events," and described approved capital expenditures that had not been transferred into the HAPO fund.

Commissioners and county accountants framed the question as one of timing and legal authority. County counsel noted RCW 82.14.370, the statute governing the 0.09 remittance, and staff explained the remitted funds may be used for public facilities that serve economic development, including operations that create or retain jobs. Accounting staff described a cash‑flow problem: although some capital items dated to 2025 and 2026 had been approved, the 0.09 remittance had not been transferred in a timely way and HAPO had covered bills from operating cash.

Concerns about fiscal management and precedent were raised during debate. One commissioner called the $250,000 figure a "stab in the dark" and urged a week for accountants to reconcile the books; another said an immediate cash fix was necessary because HAPO invoices could not be paid. Commissioner Balmond recommended the interim transfer, saying the amount would give the auditor's office and HAPO the opportunity to conclude a full reconciliation.

The board moved and seconded a resolution (read as resolution 2026-241) approving the transfer. Before the vote staff reiterated that $350,000 was already budgeted as an annual subsidy and that prior subsidies had been larger ($675,000 cited for a previous year). After discussion the board voted to approve the $250,000 transfer.

The action reimburses the HAPO Center for capital improvements already paid out of the center's operating account; commissioners directed staff to continue working with auditors and HAPO to reconcile the full accounting and report back to the board.

The resolution passed July 8. The county's counsel told the public that records related to funding and settlement matters are public and available for request.