Monday Budget Workshop - 9/28/2026

Cowlitz County Commissioners’ Monday budget workshop on September 28, 2026, reviewed the 2027 budgets for Noxious Weed Control, the Historical Museum, District Court and Probation, and the Office of Public Defense (OPD). Noxious Weed Control reported mostly minor revisions, including an approximately $4,000 increase in anticipated Mount St. Helens grant spending and a reduction in state weed-board funding for a Class A project from $5,000 to $3,400. Its proposed $40,000 vehicle replacement was reconsidered after reviewing the vehicle reserve. The museum described a new agreement with Castle Rock to manage its visitor center and an anticipated $15,000 in tourism funding for seasonal staffing. Commissioners asked the director to look for further savings and return with options; possible IT-related savings were discussed, but no reduction was approved.

District Court and Probation reported reduced revenue projections and substantial prior budget cuts. The commissioners did not decide on the additional approximately $83,000 position request, noting the department’s staffing pressures and asking to see how operations proceed. OPD proposed case-management software at about $55,000 in the first year and just under $36,000 annually in the following years; commissioners expressed support for moving forward with preparations for a 2027 start, although no formal vote is evident in the transcript. A proposed seven-month attorney position was not approved at this meeting. A senior paralegal reclassification with an estimated annual cost of about $5,000 was also discussed. No formal votes on these budget items were clearly recorded.