County Council passes 2027 budget, plans for additional budget work leading into 2028-2029

With the 2027 budget now set, Council must shift its focus to the 2028-2029 budget, which presents many of the same fiscal challenges seen in the last few years due mainly to stagnated revenues, increased inflation, and increased operating costs

||| FROM SAN JUAN DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS |||

At its October 5 meeting, the San Juan County Council adopted the 2027 budget after hearing from residents across the county. This adopted budget includes organizational restructuring and over $3.8 million dollars in reductions to staffing and critical programs across all departments and elected offices. As part of the annual budget adopted on Monday, Council also adopted the capital budget which includes an annual and a Six-Year Capital Improvement Plan and is made up of the Transportation Improvement Program, the Clean Water Utility Capital Improvement Program, and the Capital Committee’s Capital Improvement Plan.

The County will publish an Adopted Budget Book later this year, which will be available to the public on the Auditor’s website: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/2030/San-Juan-County-Budget.

2027 Budgeting Process

This summer, the County worked diligently to reduce a projected multi-million-dollar deficit. Council set aside time at multiple meetings in June, July, and September to engage in difficult but necessary budget planning discussions – all of which are recorded and posted to the County website. Rising costs, capped property tax levies, unfunded state mandates, and declining financial support from the state and federal governments continue to present ongoing fiscal challenges in San Juan County and many other county governments across the state. 

To adopt a balanced budget for the current 2026 budget year, developed in 2025, the County reduced operating expenses by $1.7 million dollars. Cost savings measures in the 2026 budget included laying off staff and holding other positions vacant, allowing only essential travel and training, and reducing the rate of equipment replacement, among other strategies. Even with the more than $5.5 million in reductions across the 2026 and 2027 budgets, the County will be facing additional reductions in future budget years absent any substantial increase in revenues. 

“As we adopt the 2027 county budget, we do so with a deep awareness of the people and programs affected by these decisions. For the second year in a row, this Council has had to make reductions to staff and services—choices none of us take lightly. We know these cuts touch the lives of our employees, families, and community members, and we are grateful for the resilience and dedication shown throughout this challenging period. Without new and substantial revenue, we anticipate similar difficulties ahead in the 2028 budget,” said Council Chair Justin Paulsen. 

For more information on San Juan County’s budget process, past reports, and quarterly updates, visit: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/2030/San-Juan-County-Budget.

Questions may be directed to TilleryW@sanjuancountywa.gov.