County lobbyist: state budgets largely protect local services; sobering center gets $733,000 in senate capital list
February 25, 2026 | Spokane County, Washington
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Mike Burgess, the county’s lobbyist, told the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 24 that preliminary operating and capital budget proposals in Olympia largely spared local human-services programs and maintained selected county projects.
Burgess said Joya funding — for early infant support programs referenced by county staff — was retained in both the House and Senate budget language, and that legislators provided a partial backfill for previously cut BECA funding that the county had raised as a concern. He cautioned the numbers are still being negotiated and could change in final budget conference negotiations.
On capital funding, Burgess said the lone county priority that appeared in the Senate capital list was $733,000 earmarked for the Spokane sobering center. “It was not in the House, but that’s normal,” Burgess said, noting the two chambers often exchange community projects during conference.
Burgess also reviewed other bills of interest to the county. He described an environmental-crimes bill that passed the Senate but drew significant opposition in the House and said parts of it raised liability questions for county employees collecting environmental samples. He listed bills that have moved in committee — including tax-increment finance language and land-banking proposals — and said a widely discussed camping bill failed to make it off the House floor and is effectively dead for the session.
Commissioners asked follow-up questions about PFAS funding and whether amounts were new or carried forward; Burgess said $7.5 million from last year remained but appeared reallocated in the current budgets and that he would investigate the precise status.
No formal county action was taken during the briefing; Burgess said he would provide more detailed analysis to the board in a subsequent update.
Burgess said Joya funding — for early infant support programs referenced by county staff — was retained in both the House and Senate budget language, and that legislators provided a partial backfill for previously cut BECA funding that the county had raised as a concern. He cautioned the numbers are still being negotiated and could change in final budget conference negotiations.
On capital funding, Burgess said the lone county priority that appeared in the Senate capital list was $733,000 earmarked for the Spokane sobering center. “It was not in the House, but that’s normal,” Burgess said, noting the two chambers often exchange community projects during conference.
Burgess also reviewed other bills of interest to the county. He described an environmental-crimes bill that passed the Senate but drew significant opposition in the House and said parts of it raised liability questions for county employees collecting environmental samples. He listed bills that have moved in committee — including tax-increment finance language and land-banking proposals — and said a widely discussed camping bill failed to make it off the House floor and is effectively dead for the session.
Commissioners asked follow-up questions about PFAS funding and whether amounts were new or carried forward; Burgess said $7.5 million from last year remained but appeared reallocated in the current budgets and that he would investigate the precise status.
No formal county action was taken during the briefing; Burgess said he would provide more detailed analysis to the board in a subsequent update.
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