Observing Government

Council Attendees: Sue Marshall, Glen Yung, Will Fuentes, Matt Little, Michelle Belkot

Link to materials: Clark County Council Meetings | Clark County

Public Hearing: 2026 Annual Budget – Elected Officials Testimony

(No public comment today, as meeting will be continued to tomorrow)

The various departments NOT under the county manager spoke to any requests they had made, the need, and funding. (District Court, Superior Court, Sheriff, Prosecuting Attorney, Clerk, Auditor, Assessor).

The use of ‘project positions’ was discussed. Many of them aren’t for projects (where the position is really for a short term need) but there is only a commitment to fund the position for 2 years. This is because of the County’s structural deficit and knowing that cuts will be coming unless funding is figured out. The department heads would like to see these be non-project positions, as it is hard to attract people into them. Lower level staff don’t apply for them due to being perceived as temporary. In many cases if they had to do cuts, these would not be the positions they’d cut. The County Manager says they need to be project positions because she can’t extend them out in the 6-year budget forecast. Expect more discussion on this at Tuesday’s meeting and in the future.

Discussion of new revenue from the public safety sales tax to come in 2026.

12/2/25 (continuation)

Proclamation – Homeless Person’s Memorial day

They let Carmen do the invocation. She was deliberately non-inclusive saying of non-believers: “you’re not of our flock”.

Separate business item #2 CREDC – moved to January, needs more editing.

Convene as the Greater Clark Park District Board – Fee schedule Update.

• parks fee presentation
• This was previously reviewed in an earlier council meeting.
• Public Comment – none of note
• Council discussion:
• Matt asked about discounts (disabled, veterans, etc.). Staff talks about future considerations. They honor veteran and permanently disabled passes.
• Approved unanimously

Public Hearing – Greater Clark Parks District 2026 Budget

• Presentation Title
• Slide 6 – impact of no increase, 1% only, 1% plus banked capacity. Parks district has a structural deficit.
• Slide 7 – impact to median homeowner. 67 cents for 1%, $1.82 for that plus banked.
• Public comment: ugh.
• Matt asks about jail partnership – they used 1000’s of hours per year across the county (not just this district).
• Glen moves to go for 1% plus banked capacity. Approved unanimously. Budget for 2026 also approved.

Convene as County Council.

Public Hearing – 2026 annual budget.

• Presentation Title
• Previously reviewed with Council
• County Manager walked through process and timeline.
• Recommendation is to take 1% plus banked capacity for all funds (general, road, conservation futures parks (Parks was approved above).
• Paused at slide22 for council questions.
• Michelle asks about reductions. No cuts yet but will discuss next year. Asks what the impact of the Baker-Tilley study (salary review). It reduced unspent balance (unspent due to vacancies).
• Home sales are down, reducing sales tax and permit fee collections. Watch this as may be an indicator of where the economy is going.
• Forecasts for the 3 scenarios.
• A few amendments – Most in response to Monday’s asks.
• Slide 50 begins overview of how taxes are calculated, etc.
• 42.6 million dollar loss in general fund due to council NOT taking the 1% 7 times over last 14 years.
• Walks through some property tax bills to show county share, driver of increases, etc.
• Councilor Amendments:
• Matt – (both requested yesterday)
• PowerPoint Presentation – 12^th district Judge court assistant
• PowerPoint Presentation – Auditor grants coordinator as 2 year project position.
• Glen
• Also requested yesterday – Treasurer project position, she identified cost savings to offset cost
• Sue
• PowerPoint Presentation - Arts commission festival and event expenses – one time around $7000.
• Public Comment:
• Richard Marr – retired Vet. – Veterans assistance fund. Has seen big improvement in how that done, and facility. Big thanks.
• Chris Cook not happy with them voting on the Manager’s amendments as a package. She was overruled
• Managers amendments Approved – unanimous.
• Councilor amendments
• Clerk position supporting new judge – Approved.
• Auditor grant coordinator position – Approved, Michelle opposes
• Council asks for report back on effectiveness etc.
• Treasurer position, with savings no general fund impact. Approved.
• Arts Commission festival – one time. Approved. Michelle opposes.
• And now the taxes:
• General Fund 1%. Approved, Michelle Opposes
• General Fun Banked Capacity. Approved. Michelle abstains since was a no to 1%
• Subordinate levies
• Mental health – proportional rate, approved 4 to 1
• Developmental Disabilities – Approved 4 to 1
• Veterans Assistance – Approved – unanimous
• Road fund 1% - Approved – 4 to 1
• Road fund Banked Capacity – Approved. Michelle abstains again. Approved.
• Conservation Futures 1% - Approved. 4 to 1
• Conservation Futures banked capacity – Approved Michelle abstains.
• Approve total budget - Approved – unanimous.

Back to Council meeting

Consent Agenda – approved.

Separate business:

• 3 year contract for commercial structural plan review services. Approved after some clarifying questions.
• CREDC – pulled
• Contract with OTAK for survey and engineering design services for 3 projects. Approved.
• Capital project for property along lake river for Legacy lands program. Expand Lake river water trail.
• Matt asked about public access, including hunting. Would need to update the road. Accessible from Lake River but plan is to upgrade road. No hunting allowed on county properties. Can access under the railroad tracks.
• Approved
• Donation agreement with Fountain Village Estates homeowners association. 0.88 acres. Approved.
• Quitclaim deed on orphaned property that involved messed up boundaries to a number of lots. Approve.
• Escrow agreement w Columbia Resource Company and Vancouver. Solid waste Approved.