Adams commissioners approve $60.7M budget

RITZVILLE — Adams County commissioners have approved a budget of about $60.73 million for 2025. The county’s general fund was budgeted at about $14.71 million.  

The current expense carryover at the end of 2025 is projected to be about $1.65 million, a decrease from 2024, when the carryover is projected to be about $2.52 million. 

Total current expense revenue was projected at $13.84 million.  

Commissioner Jay Weise expressed concern in earlier interviews about initiatives – often expensive initiatives – from state officials and the Washington Legislature that add to the demands on counties and cities without a way for counties and cities to pay for them. Before the budget vote Weise said he’s been looking at some of the proposals from legislators for the 2025 session. And some of them, he said, are scary. 

“I reviewed the titles of all the bills. I shook my head a lot,” he said. 

Sales tax revenue data from November showed a decline in Adams County, he said – and the November report really shows the amount collected in August, due to delays in distribution. Coupled with some of the proposals from the legislature it’s a concerning trend, he said. 

Some legislators are talking about new taxes to help pay for state programs, Weise said. 

“Don’t we have enough?” he said. 

Commissioner Dan Blankenship said county and city officials have been telling state officials that revenue is a problem when it comes to all they’re asked to do. Proposals for extra taxes may be a response to that, he said.  

The current expense fund pays for a lot of Adams County operations, including all county departments, from the auditor to the coroner to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. It also pays for Superior and District courts.  

The county’s road fund was projected to spend about $6.47 million on capital projects in 2025 and about $10 million for operations and personnel. It’s projected to end 2025 with about $4.64 million in carryover. 

Expenses in the county’s solid waste department are budgeted at about $2 million, with about $35,000 allocated for capital outlay. The solid waste department is projected to finish 2025 with about $2.9 million in carryover. 

Adams County has received grants to pay for the expansion of the fiber optics system; the first phase expanded coverage in Ritzville and Lind, and the next phase is scheduled for areas south of Othello. The county is projected to receive about $8 million in revenue for fiber expansion in 2025 and spend it all.