SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – Spokane County commissioners identified a $20 million budget gap during their recent budget review, leading to the elimination of 120 positions for the 2026 fiscal year.
“If we had not taken any type of remedial action, we would have been about $20 million in the hole,” District Three Commissioner Josh Kerns said.
The county’s structural gap required complex measures.
“We asked each of our departments, head departments and elected officials to look at trying to keep a flat budget,” Kerns explained. “On average that would be a 7% decrease in expenditures.”
In 2025, the county budgeted for approximately 2,000 positions. In 2026, 120 of these roles will be cut, bringing the total number of employees to just under 2,000.
“The large number of positions that were vacant, those have a cost associated with them,” Kerns said.
While most positions cut were vacant, five filled roles were also removed.
“We’ve been able to really make the budget be more realistic to, you know, how much money is truly needed to operate some of our departments,” Kerns said.
Besides cutting positions, the county also reduced overtime and related expenses. Projected sales tax growth and property assessments helped close the remaining gap.
“We know, sort of the baseline moving forward that you know, there will be a gap,” Kerns said.
Future budget gaps may result from state adjustments, sales taxes or unexpected expenditures. However, Kerns explained that during the budgeting process, commissioners aimed to prioritize public safety and financial responsibility.
