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<br />2025-11-17 MINUTES 1 <br /> <br />KITTITAS COUNTY <br />2025 BUDGET MEETING MINUTES <br />BOCC CONFERENCE ROOM, 205 WEST 5TH ROOM 108 - ELLENSBURG <br /> <br />MONDAY 10:00AM NOVEMBER 17, 2025 <br /> <br />Board members present: Commissioner Laura Osiadacz & Commissioner Cory Wright <br />Staff Present: Zack DeHaven, Bryan Elliott, Andrew Yoder, Sue Patterson <br /> Amy Cziske and Lisa Murray <br /> <br /> <br />1. Call to Order: 10:00AM <br />2. Citizen Comments – None <br />3. 2025 Sales Tax Updated - Discussion <br />Zack DeHaven from The Finance Department reported that sales tax collections for January–August are <br />ahead of last year and are projected to exceed the 2025 budget. Although all categories show growth, the <br />increases are not adjusted for inflation, and Local Retail Sales Tax shows only minimal growth (0.3%), <br />below the current 3% inflation rate. Year-end revenues are expected to be about $100,000 higher <br />than in 2024. August collections came in roughly $145,000 below the same month last year, <br />breaking the three-month trend of higher receipts. <br /> <br />4. 2025 General Fund Year End Outlook- Discussion <br />Zack DeHaven reviewed preliminary year-end estimates showing expenses projected at $49.5M, <br />about $2.2M under the amended budget, and revenues estimated at $43.3M, with higher <br />uncertainty due to receipting delays. Based on current figures, the year-end deficit is projected at <br />$6.1M before applying the planned $3.95M jail reserve subsidy, resulting in an adjusted deficit <br />of approximately $2M. Finance will continue to update these projections as year-end data <br />become clearer. <br /> <br />5. 2025 Budget Amendments Review- Discussion <br />Zack DeHaven presented the proposed budget amendments, noting that most items had been <br />previously reviewed and given preliminary approval pending year-end updates. The attached <br />schedules outline amendments by fund, department, and request. If approved as to form, the <br />amendments will move to the next consent agenda to schedule a public hearing. <br /> <br />6. REET II Transfer to Parks 2026 – Discussion <br /> <br />Zack DeHaven discussed recent changes from HB 1791, which allow greater flexibility in the <br />use of REET 1 and REET 2 revenues. REET 2 revenues, currently pledged to the Parks Fund