BY PEPPER FISHER
Port Angeles – Clallam County Commissioners conducted a special meeting on Wednesday to open a discussion on a possible Levy Lid Lift ahead of the 2026 budgeting process.
County Administrator Todd Mielke says the timing of the discussion and public Q&A session was built around a statewide rule that says, if a county wants to even discuss the possibility of putting a levy lid lift on the ballot, the conversation has to start by this coming August 5.
“So, that was the purpose today, is just to say, ‘Hey look, on July 30th, from 1:00-3:00, we want to be able to have a conversation about what our levy rates look like.’ We certainly recognize that school districts, fire districts, and other special-purpose districts, tend to go through this process about every three years. You know, the county waits 20 years between stretches to have this conversation. And the whole idea is, ‘Hey look, we’re trying to take a holistic approach. We’re trying to look at a longer planning window for budgeting purposes, for county services.”
Multiple public meetings have been scheduled for the end of the month. Commissioners are expected to have a budget discussion and presentation at their July 28 work session that begins at 9:00am. And then two public meetings have been scheduled for July 29 at 1:00pm and 5:00pm. Mielke said staff will have presentations on multiple topics relating to budget forecasts, and options for dealing with them.
“And at the end of each of those conversations, we open it up for 30 minutes of Q&A, where people can come and ask us questions about the information that we’re providing. So, we’re doing that on the 28th and 29th. And then on the 30th, starting at 1:00 we would have a discussion, a more detailed discussion, about what options the county has and whether or not they want to pursue a levy lid. And at that point, that is a public hearing. So that one is open to public comment and testimony, as well.”
It should be noted that the County has to get approval from voters before they want to go above the allowable one percent hike in the tax levy.
All meetings are held in the Commissioner’s Board Room, 223 East 4th Street, Port Angeles, Room 160.