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06/25/2026 MINUTES 1
<br />
<br />COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
<br />KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
<br />KVEC ARMORY
<br />SPECIAL MEETING
<br />
<br />THURSDAY 9:00 A.M. JUNE 25, 2026
<br />
<br />Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright, Vice-Chairman Brett
<br />Wachsmith, and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz.
<br />
<br />Others in attendance: Mandy Buchholz, Office Administrator-BoCC;
<br />Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Zack DeHaven, Budget and Finance
<br />Director; Andrew Yoder, Finance Manager; Bill Davis, Infrastructure
<br />Manager; Zane Kinney, Interim IT Director; Todd Davis, Noxious Weed
<br />Director; Bryan Elliott, Auditor; Amy Cziske, Treasurer; Erin Moore,
<br />Assistant Public Health Director; Andrea Morse, Extension Agent;
<br />Katie Odiaga, Public Health Accountant; Josh Fredrickson, Public
<br />Works Director; Reid Burbank, Finance System Manager – DPW; Chad
<br />Bala, CDS Director; Jesse Cox, Solid Waste Director; Erica Luce,
<br />Solid Waste Assistant; Jeremy Larson, Building Official; Stephanie
<br />Mifflin, Assistant Building Official; Kady Porterfield, KVEC
<br />Director; Tasha Potter, Chief Administrator – Public Defense; Pat
<br />Gigstead, Misdemeanant Probation Director; Maria Gomez – Rios, Lower
<br />Dist. Court Administrator; Kari Elkins, Office Administrator – Juv.
<br />Probation; Sarah Keith, Superior Court Administrator; Elishia
<br />Harvill, Chief Administrator – Prosecutor; Nancy Shaff, Chief
<br />Administrative Deputy; Steve Panattoni, Jail Superintendent; Chris
<br />Whitsett, Inspector; Cody Cupp, Maintenance Director; Grant Shimada,
<br />Administrative Assistant (IT); Stephanie Azure George,
<br />Administrative Supervisor (Clerk); Mike Hougardy, Assessor; Christy
<br />Garcia, Chief Administrator; Cori McKean, Coroner; Emily Brown, LDC
<br />Behavioral Health Court; Eileen Murphy, Public Defense Director.
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<br />SPECIAL MEETING BUDGET RETREAT COMMISSIONERS
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<br />At 9:00 a.m. Chairman Wright opened a Special Meeting for the
<br />County’s Annual Budget Retreat. He extended his appreciation to the
<br />Auditor’s Office and acknowledged the growth that has come in this
<br />annual process.
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<br />Zack DeHaven, Budget & Finance Director, led the County's Budget
<br />Retreat, providing an overview of the County's financial position,
<br />economic trends, strategic priorities, and the proposed process for
<br />development of the 2027 budget. The presentation included a review
<br />of revenue and expenditure trends, reserve balances, economic
<br />conditions, and the County's long-term fiscal outlook. Discussion
<br />focused on structural budget challenges, including personnel cost
<br />growth exceeding recurring revenue growth, property tax limitations,
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