How does the new state budget impact San Juan County funding & programs?

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||

During the June 3 Council meeting, the County’s Lobbyist Josh Weiss, the County Manager Jessica Hudson, and the Deputy County Manager Tillery Williams, provided information about the potential financial impacts of the State’s newly adopted biennium budget. WA State’s new budget, spanning from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, supports $77.8 billion in operating expenses.  

Key areas of impact to San Juan County include:  

• The State increased public defense funding by $8.3 million per year, to $27.2 million for the biennium. San Juan County receives approximately $16,000 in public defense grants each year and expects to see a slight increase from the State.   
• The State is allocating $100 million for local law enforcement grants to be provided through HB 2015, which will create new opportunities to fund public safety behavioral health needs, personnel, and more.  County leadership plans to return to Council later this summer to discuss ways to access the program when the grant application opens.  
• The State budget reduces public health funding by $40 million. In San Juan County, reductions may impact the following areas:   

• • Reductions in State funding have ended the Regional Healthcare Officer program, which has historically provided support to local Health Officers in San Juan County. With the program ending in June, the County may seek to partner with other jurisdictions for support.  
  • The future of funding for the Foundational Public Health Services Fund (FPHS) is unclear. This fund supports much of San Juan County’s general operations in the Health Department, and updates to the budget are pending.  

• The State budget increases spending on the ferry system by approximately $100 million. County leadership will monitor the rollout of these funds and is hopeful it will corelate to improved services in the San Juan Islands.  

Capital Investments in the Islands 

The State budget also includes $13,183,000 in new appropriations for entities throughout San Juan County, supporting capital and programming investments including:  

• Matching funds for seismic rehabilitation of the County courthouse – San Juan County applied for a grant up to $1.5 million through the Historic Courthouse Rehabilitation Program to fund earthquake mitigation renovations. The County will seek to utilize this funding by June 30, 2027. 
• $2 million for community services at Pea Patch Lane  
• $1.687 million for the Lopez Food Center 
• $506,000 for Orcas Center Renovation-Phase 3 
• $277,000 for the Lopez Island Library Renovation Project   
• $294,000 for the Orcas Island Library Renovation Project  
• $263,000 for the Lopez Swim Center 
• $523,000 for the Friends of Lopez Island Pool 
• $361,000 for the Lopez Island Food Center 
• $3 million for the Pea Patch Community Campus  
• $743,000 for Albert Jensen & Sons Inc. (The Port of Friday Harbor)  
• $187,000 for the Cattle Point NRCA Interpretive Building Reno. 
• $1.275 million for the Moran Campground Renovation 
• $567,000 for Moran Staff Housing  

County leadership was thrilled to learn about this project funding across three major islands, supporting the work of our partners across the county.  

Looking Ahead  

Council will begin developing priorities for the 2026 legislative session later this summer, with the intent of scoping any project funding requests by late October of 2025. Over the summer, County leadership will continue to engage with local legislators, Governor’s Office staff, and the Washington State Association of Counties to build relationships around the state. Further updates regarding budgetary impacts to County services will be shared as they become available.  

San Juan County will enter its own biennial budgeting process this fall, featuring budget presentations from various departments, public hearings, and an eventual adoption by the end of the year. The 2024-25 Biennial Budget is available in the Budget Book as a detailed breakdown of the revenues and expenditures by fund. A high-level overview of the budget is available in the Budget-in-Brief. Learn more about the budget process on the Auditor’s website: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/2030/San-Juan-County-Budget