HomeMy WebLinkAbout1222525 - Press Release_ Jefferson County Adopts 2026 BudgetGood afternoon,
On December 22, 2025, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners adopted a county budget for 2026. The Board considered and adopted the proposed budget following a duly noticed public
hearing during its Monday, December 22 regular meeting. Jefferson County is required by Washington State law to submit a balanced budget to the state by the end of the year (RCW 36.40).
The county’s fiscal year lines up with the calendar year, and the adopted budget takes effect January 1, 2026.
When county departments provided their respective budget requests to the Auditor’s Office in September, the projected budget shortfall for 2026 stood at $5.2 million in the General Fund.
The General Fund serves as the foundation of our county government, supporting essential services and operations; therefore, a deficit of this nature in this fund affects the entire
county and influences critical decisions moving forward.
To move from an untenable deficit to a balanced budget, Finance Director Judy Shepherd calculated that a 12% total cut to General Fund departments, plus even more substantial reductions
of transfers to special revenue funds, would get us to a place where we would project to end 2026 with approximately $1.5 million left in the General Fund. This is far below the approximately
$4.5 million budget policy target to achieve a 15% reserve in the General Fund. However, Shepherd determined that $1.5 million in the General Fund would be a viable end fund balance,
presuming that additional financial planning would be needed next year to prepare for the 2027 annual budget process.
See the attached press release for the full press release and additional information.
To see the full press release on our website, visit: Jefferson County Adopts 2026 Budget • Jefferson County, WA <https://co.jefferson.wa.us/m/newsflash/home/detail/1671>
To view this post on Facebook, visit: Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1283088977167194&set=a.309934297816005>
To view this post on Instagram, visit: Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/p/DSljOeuljjc/>
Thank you,
Liz Anderson
Communications Specialist
Jefferson County
360-774-0554 (direct line)
Ext. 183 for internal use
Find us on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/jeffcowagov/>
Find us on Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/jefferson_county_wa/> *NEW*
Note: email subject to disclosure per Public Records Act, RCW 42.56