Budget projections currently reflect a funding deficit of $3.29 million
information released; photo above: Chelan and Douglas county commissioners met last week for a joint meeting. The two boards meet a few times a year to discuss issues impacting both counties.
The Board of County Commissioners recently passed the 2026 preliminary budget, a procedural step in the annual budgeting process.
At this time, the preliminary budget shows 2026 revenues at $58.66 million and expenditures at nearly $61.95 million. The difference is a deficit of about $3.29 million. The preliminary budget is posted on the county’s website.
Cathy Mulhall, Chelan County administrator, described the preliminary budget as a “point in time” during the annual budgeting process.
“The commissioners will continue to have their weekly budget workshops through November as they work to get that deficit down,” Mulhall said. “We are required by state law to pass a preliminary budget. The final budget will not be approved until about mid-December. So the budget is still very much a work in progress.”
The county’s goal is to pass a balanced budget every year. In comparison, the 2025 budget projects $55.87 million in revenues and $60.23 million in expenses. The county, which has about $18 million in its reserves, anticipates using about $4.35 million of its reserves to balance the 2025 budget.
Commissioners also recently passed a hiring freeze that is in effect through 2026. The hiring freeze applies to all regular full-time and part-time positions and allows for elected officials or department directors to request an exception for either grant-funded or critical positions that are essential to county operations.
“We’ve had hiring freezes over the years, so this is not a unique measure,” Mulhall said. “It is a proactive move to help us bridge that gap we expect in 2026 while maintaining current staff levels.”
