WW Commissioners to hold public hearing and possible action on 2026 budget
By Griffin Beach on Monday, December 1st, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Walla Walla County’s Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing Monday to consider adoption of the 2026 budget.
Commissioners discussed the budget at length at their Nov. 17 meeting and ways to continue digging into a projected $5.4 million shortfall for 2026.
At that meeting department cuts ranging from $2.5% to 10% were proposed, before the board ultimately requested projections from departments of what cuts of 5% to 7.5% would look like.
Commissioner Gunner Fulmer expressed concern at that meeting that cuts above 2.5% would mean the loss of positions.
“If we go from two and a half to five (percent) we might as well just start looking at bodies,” he said at that meeting.
Commissioners also talked about keeping current frozen positions in that state, as well as asking Board Clerk Diane Harris to explore the possibility of furloughs.
“Everything’s on the table when you’re upside-down like this,” Commissioner Todd Kimball said.
The public hearing will be held at 10 a.m., followed by an action agenda item: Resolution – Adopting the Final Budget for fiscal year 2026 for the various County funds.
The 2026 budget has a Dec. 31 deadline to be adopted.
