2027 Budget Workshop

Lewis County’s 2027 budget workshop was held October 16, 2026. Officials emphasized that the session was informational: no resolutions or votes could be taken, and a tentative budget was expected at the November board meeting. The proposed countywide spending plan was about $217 million, including the hospital; the general fund revenue plan was about $79 million, with a proposed property-tax levy of roughly $22 million. The presentation cited rising health insurance, retirement, social services, fuel, and other mandated costs, alongside projected interest and sales-tax revenue. Officials said the general fund balance was expected to remain near $15 million and described efforts to control costs, including reducing FTEs through attrition and limiting outside-agency increases.

Capital and purchasing topics included a stated goal of investing at least 3% of annual operating budgets in capital, equipment, and projects; capital-plan items such as $45,000 for PSB front doors and a record-storage building; and plans to continue reducing the county’s equipment fleet by three to five pieces. No RFPs, contract awards, vendor selections, or purchasing approvals were presented, and no spending-related action was voted on. The budget and project details remained under review for confirmation with departments before the November presentation.