Lewis County will adopt next year’s county budget and set property tax rates during a public hearing next month.
The Lewis County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution during its Tuesday business meeting this week that officially calls two public hearings scheduled for Monday, Dec. 1, at 10 a.m. in the commissioners’ hearing room in the Lewis County Courthouse.
The board of commissioners plans to approve the county’s 2026 budget during the first hearing and set 2026 levy rates during the second hearing.
The two hearings will be the primary venue for local taxpayers to hear a county briefing on the 2026 county budget and levy rates. Attendees can ask questions or voice concerns on the subjects.
The two public hearings will come just on time, according to Washington state law, which sets legal deadlines and checkpoints for counties that set yearly operating budgets. According to state law, the last day for a county to hold a mandatory budget public hearing is Dec. 1.
However, if the budget and levy rates are approved, the county will come in well ahead of the deadline.
The official deadline for the county to set levy rates and notify the county assessor’s office of levy rate changes is Dec. 15, while the deadline to approve a budget for the following year is Dec. 31.
While the county is setting an official budget for 2026, the budget is likely to see major changes after its final approval due to expected, but unofficial, expenses. The county regularly adjusts its budget throughout the year with quarterly budget updates. However, next year is likely to be larger than normal as the county is still in negotiations with more than 10 labor unions.
A final contract agreement will likely impact the county’s 2026 budget.
