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Washington County board approves proposed 2027 budget, backs tentative 10% pay increase
Summary
The Washington County board unanimously approved forwarding the proposed 2027 budget, which includes a recommended 10% employee wage increase and a $45,000 rise to the stone/roadpad line; members warned the pay increase may be difficult to sustain if state changes reduce revenue.
Washington County board members voted unanimously to approve and forward the county’s proposed 2027 budget packet, which includes a staff-recommended 10% pay increase for employees and a $45,000 increase to the stone/roadpad line.
Tammy, a county staff member who presented the packet, told the board: “So in your packet, you'll see the proposed budget for 2027,” and outlined changes in personnel, supplies and services. Tammy said the packet lists a $45,000 increase to stone costs and shows a stone total listed as "90" on the packet (the packet does not specify units for the figure labeled "90").
Why it matters: Board members said raising wages could be politically and financially lasting — "If you give it, you own it," a committee member warned — and they flagged possible downstream impacts if state legislation shifts county revenue. Committee member (S3) noted that a change the meeting referred to as “SEA 1” is expected to affect taxing units and that any law taking effect in 2027 will show up in pay cycles in 2028, creating planning uncertainty.
The vote: A motion to approve the packet was made, seconded and approved by hand/voice vote. Tammy said she will submit the board’s approved packet to the county council for formal action.
Details: During the discussion, members debated whether a 10% increase would restore lost ground after several years of below-inflation increases; one member said employees have “been not breaking even… losing ground at 3%” while others emphasized retention of skilled operators and the difficulty of substituting part-time labor for specialized roles. Tammy said some departments had previously received large increases while others had been more modestly funded.
What’s next: The board approved forwarding the packet; the county council will review and take the formal budget action later. The board did not record a formal dollar total for the full 2027 budget in the transcript beyond the line items discussed.
