Cowlitz County budget presentation shows multimillion‑dollar shortfall for 2027
County staff presented preliminary 2027 budget figures showing a countywide projected shortfall and a general‑fund gap; staff and commissioners discussed cuts, asset sales, and the possibility of alternative revenues while reserving detailed decisions for upcoming budget workshops.
The full story
County staff presented the mid‑biennium preliminary numbers for 2027, showing a current submittal of $230,000,000 in expenditures and $201,300,000 in revenues across county funds. Focusing on the general fund, staff reported earlier approved biennium figures for 2027 of roughly $79.55 million in expenses and $69.31 million in revenues, leaving a structural deficit; after department requests and recommended reductions the remaining shortfall was reported in the transcript as approximately $5.9 million (staff noted continued work through workshops could reduce the gap further).
Sign up to keep reading.
Your free newsletter brings you what your city council, county, and school board discussed and decided.