These notes were taken by an Okanogan County Watch volunteer. Every attempt is made to be accurate. Notes are verbatim when possible, and otherwise summarized or paraphrased.
Note takers comments or clarifications are in italics. These notes are not the official county record of the meeting. For officially approved minutes, which are normally published at a later time, CLICK HERE.
The time stamps refer to the times on the AV Capture archive of the meeting on this date at the County livestream archive. To locate items in real time, the clock on the wall in the AV Capture screen can be helpful.
09.16.2025 Tues AM BOCC
Meeting Highlights:
The commissioners revisit the issue of establishing an Okanogan County Port District. Even if the district received no tax revenue, it would still be eligible for some federal and state grants.
The commissioners and the Finance Committee (Pam Johnson, County Treasurer, Cari Hall, County Auditor and Lisa Schreckengost, Finance Manager) discuss the Road Fund budget for 2026. Revenue from the gas tax, PILT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) and SRS (Secure Rural Schools) is relatively flat, but expenses, especially for construction materials, have risen greatly, so the 2026 budget faces a $2,500,000 shortfall. Commissioner Hover proposes several possible ways to deal with the shortfall.Cut services by quite a bit. This would include layoffs.
Use money from the Current Expense Reserve and the LATCF (Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund) to cover most of the shortfall in 2026 and ask voters to approve a levy lid lift to begin in 2027.
Hold a public meeting at a large venue in the evening to explain the situation to the public.
Commissioner Hover makes it clear that they’re trying to fix the shortfall as best they can, but it will involve service cuts. People can’t afford to pay the property tax it would take to do what they’re doing.
During County Engineer Josh Thomson’s weekly update, the commissioners learn via email that that the SRS funding bill will probably not be voted on by Congress due to lack of support. Not receiving the SRS funds in 2025 and 2026 will bring the Roads Fund shortfall up to $4,000,000.
Meeting adjourned at 11:43.