SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – The Spokane County Board of Commissioners voted in favor of adopting a new balanced budget for 2026 on Monday, totaling $983 million.
According to a press release, the top priorities for the 2026 budget are public safety and financial stability.
“Today, the Board adopted a balanced budget that prioritizes essential services like criminal justice and public safety, while holding the line on property taxes, roads and Conservation Futures funding,” Chair Mary Kuney said.
The budgeting process began in June when county commissioners directed officials and departments to identify 7% reductions in expenses.
“As a result of internal cost-cutting measures and the elimination of vacant positions, 120 authorized positions have been removed from the budget, primarily through attrition, bringing the County’s total workforce for 2026 to under 2,000 employees,” the county said in a press release.
The county also emphasized slight revenue growth over the previous year, despite commissioners voting not to increase any authorized levies.
“The Board of County Commissioners is pleased to report that while other taxing jurisdictions and voter approved ballot measures may increase residents and business owner’s property taxes, the Board chose not to increase any of the authorized levies available to Spokane County,” the county said. “In addition, revenues came in slightly higher for 2025, attributable to $1.4 billion in new construction and a modest increase in sales tax revenue during the last quarter of the year.”
The general fund budget will be set at $282 million.
For more information on the 2026 budget, visit the Spokane County website.
