Public comment taken Tuesday, December 10
information released
On Tuesday, Chelan County commissioners will hold the 2025 budget hearing.
The budget hearing, originally planned for 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, will be continued to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, when public comment will be taken.
Commissioners will have a final budget workshop at 1 p.m. on Dec. 9 to review the budget and those requests made by offices and departments for 2025.
Tuesday’s public hearing will be in the Board of County Commissioners’ chambers, 400 Douglas St. in Wenatchee. People also can participate via Zoom; the link is on the commissioners’ webpage. People will have three minutes to share their thoughts or suggestions with the board.
Every December, commissioners aim to pass a balanced budget for the upcoming year where revenues and expenditures are nearly equal. In 2025, projected revenues are $55.1 million, about a 1.6 percent increase over projected revenues for 2024.
On the expenditures side, 2025 projected expenditures are higher than 2024, mostly because of increases in salaries and benefits. The county is projecting expenditures next year of $61 million.
To make up for the more than $5 million difference, or whatever commissioners are unable to reduce, the county will use reserves. Currently, $18 million is in the county’s reserves.
“At the start of the budgeting season back in late summer, the board requested all county departments keep their expenditures – outside of salaries and benefits – at 2024 levels,” Commissioner Kevin Overbay said. “With 2024 revenues expected to come in about $1 million lower than our projections, we anticipate a 2025 budget that is focused on departmental needs, not wants.”
The final 2025 budget will be posted to the Chelan County website (www.co.chelan.wa.us) after it is passed.
