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Home My WebLink About022726 - WAcounties Weekly _ February 27_ 2026ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. February 27, 2026 COUNTY NEWS Washington Goes to D.C. This week, the Washington February 27, 2026 <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/0/mdRXchT---plus---Cfra0iW91TQfQW6aPEd2P6rpSp3xwtKtOclGQWXD4xlXtRTWSqKyP---slash---hzW7Z---plus---NN6S---plus--- K8wo0---plus---V---plus---jlV1A---equals------equals---> COUNTY NEWS Washington Goes to D.C. This week, the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) proudly joined county leaders from across the country at the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2026 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., to make our voices heard! 30 county commissioners and officials from across Washington State, along with WSAC staff, traveled to the nation’s capital to engage in policy discussions, connect with federal partners, and advocate for county priorities. From coastal communities to Eastern Washington, our delegation represented the full breadth and diversity of the Evergreen State, bringing local perspectives directly to federal decision-makers. READ MORE <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/1/ngYt3lDQyWhGmn9KAtgohX6UDPvyl98OQDs4xQYOuhhe3Ciq3NMry---plus---hj53SKraLscwwklXsX3KTwGmoavzXN9vd9B5do EO5ptG0co6rQAsVXeMibKwGEkwHl2a1FNn---plus---boBfwZfvkkAB4FNW6Mgk21jq4n8jROnGiBY2uCLz3cfk---equals---> COUNTY NEWS Washington Lawmakers Work to Keep Bipartisan Public Defense Proposals Alive A framework for assuring the state eventually pays a much greater share of public defense costs in Washington is idling in the Legislature as supporters look for ways to ensure it doesn’t collapse. Paul Jewell, government relations director for the Washington State Association of Counties, said the group was “disappointed” Peterson’s bill did not move. “We’re hoping those other pieces show up elsewhere,” he said. “We want to get the right resources in the right places for the future.” READ MORE <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/2/omySgoSvLQoO1ev9t---plus---klXP4ifR---slash---FiqnvMbSF2ylu7VcYTXl---slash---pleAiCB893fDTHd9oYNyrrs9 NTeIjqwlTb5n6b04tdhxZbmFFNjJ3jXDbLZc5gbo4GW3---plus---yqWwPFsnnN6OqvMA9WER4FTG---slash---YVfki0eZzyaq3q95nxrfRlLAsGg4QqCdBEquuz4beo8gEBDWh---slash---CGfoXrk89---slash---QZprVPokkvV0fllI8A3V6rs5ypFDxD d3mMMlZQBTfPIQAn6hQTdEYS> NEW EPISODE <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/3/QCOdCUz2f6cyl5OjPOeGxMfqd7yI9MBSzYJBNdr9eiWomiQo---slash---4QmGzoWd---slash---KcEN---plus---de5zhfI1JTbFjFn9Nn MnO9D7uOfgIs6PWVMokj11---slash---pRA95VCx5w---slash---lKzrSywhupRWu> Budget Gymnastics & Billion‑Dollar Backfills: Inside the 2026 Supplemental Showdown Paul Jewell and budget‑whisperer Brian Enslow return for a deep, candid, and entertaining breakdown of the House and Senate supplemental operating budgets. From billion‑dollar transfers to the great Public Works Account squeeze, they unravel the creative fiscal maneuvers shaping Washington’s $80 billion spending plan. They also dive into the high‑stakes LEOFF 1 pension fix, Climate Commitment Act, and cuts hitting childcare, behavioral health, and higher education. If you want to understand what’s really happening behind the numbers in Olympia, this episode is your master class. LISTEN NOW <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/4/2apLhx---slash---ctCxq6VhpV7D0hphqkU---slash---oPOWPHK86qPeLwjxGpBjIml---plus---nOBSdeqfbC7mGFMJfyt1 yjsnTsJ---slash---GGto5---plus---ZrpjGeAd---plus---OZMGcctEehcjLpEywfhB15vmj---slash---L7pjxRSx> COMMUNITY NEWS Building Belonging: Urban Strategies to Combat America's Loneliness Crisis There is a loneliness epidemic in the United States. A 2025 American Psychological Association survey found that over half of U.S. adults felt isolated (54%), left out (50%), or lonely (50%). Nearly 70% said they received less emotional support than they needed, up from 65% the prior year. According to former U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek H. Murthy, loneliness is not just a mental health problem that increases the likelihood of anxiety and depression, but also poses many hazards to physical health, including increased dementia and cardiovascular disease risk. READ MORE <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/5/0D5mxBhqx---plus---EzU0K5lOSXRDX9Wn8NBbFj1pASeJE---plus---Og2aBkHWyNWhqiJea8tBGGIT3scYZ31mKyCcHrZaiMc AWcXXtOnBU3kyAECarpTFuPsxMsoiSIIASSGggE1aXEj94Ns7beqfKzALCo1Fh---slash---s07Hwa5jscsYAqVnMMTupANzI---equals---> COUNTY NEWS No Cops Hired So Far with Washington’s New $100M Grant Program Money from Washington’s new $100 million program to boost police hiring has yet to reach cities and counties. Local officials have been frustrated with the rollout of the grants championed by Governor Ferguson to address Washington’s status as dead last in the nation in police staffing per capita. They complain it’s been slow and rife with technical issues. “Compared to the need, it’s a relatively small amount of money, so it’s difficult for a lot of our members to meet those standards in order to qualify,” said Derek Young, executive director of the Washington State Association of Counties. READ MORE <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/6/zSOPZUCqhbYhkICGbS9cmL---plus---i9P6onudJvbPcCGT6VQ74nlMca44uMYUkF8dKqdVaVefYYrFarWGQdBH---plus---ibX rHvAO---slash---4ZtSyteFBmK---slash---SJZpjS8ku8rLmoV4vDBZl1rVjRjJnFVHM6yXquLrJo24K1gMy5l---slash---7PAhPDkafS3ffKLBilr1cxYSPxpIjRzBuZQsEyKQnGFCBuL1azu6s0QnsBOb3ZOAydYDcEMJs3WMQ1LkhrR4KNN8JrC7fmiRQSJ 8GA6> STATE NEWS Washington Lawmakers Consider Bills Affecting Journalism Washington state lawmakers are considering several bills this session that could affect journalism. Those include bills that affect public records access, how journalists cover court proceedings, and funding for local newsrooms -- changes that could ultimately affect the public’s access to reliable information and the transparency of democracy. To fund the program, the bill would create a 1.22% business and occupation tax surcharge on certain large social media platforms and search engines, with revenue deposited into a Local Journalism Investment Account. READ MORE <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/7/lF0IYHZ99eCxmhPNXJcGyE8BM3t---slash---NIZrIfso---slash---JyZUAMg---slash---WzhVo7dwAaF---slash---UmEc cY4fJYyxWM1X8ALpZHkMPgwMUDFTkCdfHKzSoA1D---plus---CFwMMddHH8T8j3ftUfOC3szFXTlaGardfr---slash---q7FZmok0GYt6id---plus---jLdpaDhwNSLfM5uB2s1cylgiRVFXtfkDgheaiiownOdOER0ZvKVRl7tmUScBmkLyq3TrJSJipdB0DOR3 OKn7MvfQPev1qI91DJ4m2X68> <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/8/uZBdz0PEaA2DjVpzX3HlbcuM2XK7eH7TBtXobHOXKV9oM0FuDRoNQE---slash---6tetO7W82STiI2TF3BFX4qPjbsQmL71mhjJAZf2XFTnX8 rSchX---plus---iuLZ24oaAVtQcNScIddyn24cjBFxq2R0MilWes---slash---Itzc63M---slash---zXj2DqjAaZW---plus---Hu6gu4---equals---> STATE NEWS Colville Tribal Chair Talks Land Management, IHS Reform, Energy Sovereignty as Washington Weighs Tribal Seats on DNR Board Tribes with territory in Washington could soon get representation on the state Natural Resources Board—but just how that will look isn’t a sure bet. The original version of SB 5838 would have added a single seat to the Board for a representative of all federally recognized tribes in Washington. The six-person body guides the Department of Natural Resources’ policies. Paul Jewell, government relations director for the Washington State Association of Counties, told the same committee his organization isn’t opposed to tribal representation but has concerns, especially about whether adding a tribal member might divert the board from prioritizing revenue state trust lands generate for counties. READ MORE <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/9/yYvpdfDZzsXbWmyIPco9sLrhyo8tz1GsmBvBhRHKZ5eQ7HjruI9vMuhXAN---slash---3vehLHsr85d6U93hv5mPfmBsGPwRDEM- --plus---uiYSQzVYDIWrHjX2h9x---plus---GXmqyMCGCP6L6kfof---plus---gX2fVMTeMFFGsjAqH5IRe4Y5FDQKTxXbe9c8l0PuJKdffbslBDR740Ouvyogb17jpw263tCrppoAg1e2AUv9EU7VZqHCVCioIjnDHhVjqF8ECfLj55x---plus---x7VaTjSfT 0Av---plus---R8ht4b1r9QUTG0UxKgMu6dimPsjzpvZKWRVS1Pmv8---equals---> <https://members.wsac.org/emailimages/1705611441075-425944.png> Upcoming Events FRI 6 MARCH 6 @ 11:00AM Cyber Resilience in County Finance: Protecting What Matters Most <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/10/yYDtLkuph---plus---xcpuxItVUvWB52Phu96uL2wi-- -plus---U2gfdEv4DcXrNpvRxbnJvMhGocW---plus---iFiXVrpKYXPZCQAguvTO---plus---D3CX4YNw1Qad537XuuQ4HiwaXw---slash---2zr1gouaOa4o2qnHuHeCjDAkTKuD4VuOPUbcCLF2sUrprB---slash---YuTFoS8brv3ho---equals---> Webinar | FREE WED 18 MARCH 18-20 Road Design Conference <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/11/5NtvHy1UTNxC7S2Wido2VMJfHE---plus---aNszNmgYAdSs9suyPsupH91b68d---plus---329Aafkq---sla sh---tJjiEIkQum3Xf8sMzjoE8xWUZ46u---slash---t8c---plus---tpQB2QxopX8EQYFs3nSRJC7EIsjdErD> Chelan | $100 VIEW ALL UPCOMING EVENTS <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/12/Pjgm---plus---pToZ0w3c8iDQ---plus---qTddnkZHQ1DTXke8VpUnGrJxtO1PNUKBw1aWJ---slash---d Z5klBf2---slash---Sm9MLV---slash---LC586hmWYSBmKQ---equals------equals---> <https://members.wsac.org/emailimages/1705613037920-355671.png> NEW WSAC MEMBER? 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SIGN IN HERE <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/13/P7ExVfcT9vRRKsqK3fjpXAa6WZ8cuRqi5TWZJvv1O64bcmLD12i01oiubgZ9qQOyEvko---plus---sopi9HAh---slash--- gglzkIRw---equals------equals---> <https://wsac.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/WSAC_Legislative_Icons_2021-Social.png> LATEST Job Openings GRANT COUNTY Deputy Prosecutor 1 <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/14/i38Ybq8P6jJntaXPot06m04RjwJ4GcEmv0NDGxowxAucdlVp40l7pjQDO---slash---xG7LJGzdN3f---slash--- ejY8To5ueIAEvZsnKDUJ30hLuyoluDoVqLD8syOI7gawv---plus---MFmpbqKReeqjO3oa8fx---slash---xP9I4wJhN3Fe0E16Af---slash---gQp---plus---XZBJ6brKKnWc---equals---> $98,467.20 - $108,305.64/Yr CLARK COUNTY Care Coordinator – Clark County Juvenile Justice <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/15/ma1ozQ17wrXYmwFNZTgjCFNeYYUJC2i---slash---K2nfBmABOwd7dMMvSdr bFVtuEBD2jSGqFLJf2LICLWY3vLLZUOdr1Epv82UnlJOoEcG13aEaY0oawVLazUjgzjt5yswsqHglyfSzVULnDUFsNA9YqWf7nI2qHlk4ZNxWijEmsnmpURk---equals---> $25.10 – $32.63/Hr VIEW ALL COUNTY JOBS <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/16/t9AqvQGmxiBpJGeEcm---plus---nvmpGLbUMc16tjhWu0QPEhmznqpH4b2D00eAM0taA3J---plus---c2nq---s lash---JZxqUQvK8nLIRM---plus---Qhw---equals------equals---> <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/17/ZnZlt5moN6lunejF3GuP6Dg0Xm6X7KLfcd---plus---K9QjB1OwpPTRqUudRdbpyNvaJ462K3tbN1---slash---EU4AGchhPrW---plus-- -pgbzHY94---plus---6nOlEjge75XG3ZMTv4iPkliabnwUwQT1CTpxc> <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/18/sbiHaNJTmXA6SHgmBHupZgl8LpKd---plus---w2bNSIM8Jrsg5bLhLq1mMog8no---plus---vJ5lghUjDKlGPEbr3Z2KfBQUnL2z4ZVjwqz gwWQ8YhwTi2tW0xGnL5yDFWY0VbBtte0G1aQb> Washington State Association of Counties is providing its members with free Business Prime! Already paying for Prime? As a WSAC member, you can receive a prorated refund! WSAC Member Benefits: * Free Business Prime ($3,499 value, unlimited users per account) * Pre-Approved line of credit of $5k+ with pay by invoice * Discounts on thousands of essential products within Office, IT, JanSan, and MRO categories Click "Learn More" below to view instructions for accessing your free prime benefit, find your county's account executive, and watch WSAC's Lunch & Learn recording on getting set up with Amazon Business! 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Try viewing it in your browser You can change your contact details and preferences here Want to unsubscribe from these emails? Click here Powered by ToucanTech <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/link/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==/29/PUx5N---slash---J---plus---0idG8XXXPEpYmMYx---plus---wr3PB05UrtSZ2OzkohLT5X7GHvwgzvj8ssr l7orITcclN43C0gTjdtv2aVjdw---equals------equals---> <https://members.wsac.org/admin-portal/email-engine/open/MzA0ODc0LTFlZTNjMEJpR1BReQ==> acy