[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6395990,"mediaKeyId","2097689-a374339e47690b3313281696f342b22d","parentId",2097689,"title","Votes at a glance: Okanogan County Finance Committee approves consent agenda, minutes and insurance change","audioSeconds",7786,"startMs",1867000,"endMs",9653000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2097689-a374339e47690b3313281696f342b22d&start=1867&end=9653","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2097689-a374339e47690b3313281696f342b22d/thumbnail_1867000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6395990/Okanogan-County/Washington/Votes-at-a-glance-Okanogan-County-Finance-Committee-approves-consent-agenda-minutes-and-insurance-change","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6395990-d596abafb297e9a796cd7f9b919742c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175022&Signature=oJrSex6dAsOtDGo9Z5Ei3KCXZmmtw6o5pRnKFTAO3ZdR2l0QrNHsicRz46aGNiO6OSZPYlWOT1H01ohdm8r001~p4RvrYV1fmKtxKpcAvRUHmI9DkJ0jCpEkLHeZDsFspa2aXJEMaAL4RhJk0Vhx93qT7MYE7rCa~Ge0L3HjiRvlgnDkv1-jwuqq0uBpi-3SXFAu1KOvAdwyexzqvzl9zDvlPFSsQZ4z91Xdc4183fV7-Cl91Jo7h9R5KCF6bo3X3jsWxnDefvN9GKpGRFVEc1eRhH4c7ln7riH8mobPln9NZgAH56DCPtUCGZjcJc1UYB7AbbImmPmudgwCBu2c-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Okanogan County, WA","date","2025-01-08T00:00:00Z","article","Key votes taken by the Okanogan County Finance Committee during the meeting:

- Motion to go into executive session (RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) evaluation of a public employee), inviting the county HR/department lead for 15 minutes. Moved and seconded; committee voice vote, all in favor (aye). (Motion recorded on the transcript.)

- Motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Moved and seconded; voice vote, all in favor (aye).

- Motion to approve the minutes of Dec. 3, 2024 with the corrections provided. Moved and seconded; voice vote, all in favor (aye).

- Motion to approve Resolution 8-2025 amending Resolution 181-2022 to add a dental insurance option for public works administrative staff. Motion seconded; voice vote, all in favor (aye). The motion passed during the consent portion of the meeting.

For transparency: the meeting record shows voice votes with unanimous \"Aye\" responses on each motion; the transcript does not record a roll-call by name for each vote. Where movers and seconders were identified in the record, the article records those procedural steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commissioners Meeting 01/08/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the meeting the committee approved the consent agenda, accepted corrected minutes of Dec. 3, 2024, and passed a resolution adding dental insurance to public works administrative staff coverage (Resolution 8-2025). The committee also voted to enter executive session as recorded.","taxTitle","Okanogan County, Washington","taxId",65560,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6395995,"Okanogan County finance staff plan supplemental fund and BECCA transfer; jail medical funding discussed",384,6608000,6992000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2097689-a374339e47690b3313281696f342b22d&start=6608&end=6992","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2097689-a374339e47690b3313281696f342b22d/thumbnail_6608000.jpg","/articles/6395995/Okanogan-County/Washington/Okanogan-County-finance-staff-plan-supplemental-fund-and-BECCA-transfer-jail-medical-funding-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6395995-55bf11c72b89cff70a1707b6666adbb4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175022&Signature=FUq6RpG8yU0qhgx7mVjS1ap0c-3dzLOtYkQJc6uyugEJPCd4IA0SoK2E2jj-JIY5cX5RYJnN6HTTgWyY4gyRYC~dS4QHvtUEBOf88wlYigS8imeJIiWHcCsftboe4OOudXVR82DEynxKTH2hAF5AefIm2apipYru5cv8Sq7OJ~0YBCWIsJKfNpLsL50q~MDCFm-K0WqtK-qnMbYgOgZKFU5oEe6TPF1KxOvPMXDlFIMhIaiQ2mEoe3NNBkPq26E94pi1g~nR5b410SKWorLHxVo2qdrG97haDnXXSUKxhC029MMdpOCW64C4CiwUwSMXDPf-XwaI9VHAYUm02e8fAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Okanogan County finance officials said they are preparing supplemental budget actions to shore up near-term cash needs and to complete a BECCA-related transfer for juvenile services.

County Auditor Carrie Volk and Treasurer Pam Johnson reviewed year-end carryover numbers and told committee members they expect to prepare a supplemental appropriation from current-expense reserves if January actuals show revenue shortfalls. Johnson proposed drafting a supplemental of about $500,000 to be advertised for public hearing in February; she said the supplemental could be adjusted downward at the hearing if January revenues reduce the need.

The meeting also covered a transfer tied to the county\u000027s BECCA juvenile program. Treasurer Johnson said a transfer of approximately $397,597 will be recorded, and staff will route the money within the juvenile revenue and expenditure sections to close out accounting for prior-year items; the treasurer added that smaller cash-on-hand amounts (for example, $30,860.73 in one referenced line) will be zeroed out in the process.

Jail medical funding and other liabilities

Committee members discussed jail medical costs and whether the county will continue paying those expenses. Officials referenced ongoing legislation and earlier actions and said jail medical responsibility is expected to revert to the state in midyear under proposals discussed in Olympia — \"if it goes through session,\" staff cautioned. No final state action was recorded during the meeting, and county staff said they will not assume the reversion until state legislation is final.

Other finance items

- The county reported higher-than-expected beginning fund balances in a number of funds when staff completed year-end cash reconciliations, but some capital projects (for example, building repairs and roofing) will require supplemental transfers to fund work that was not completed as anticipated.

- The auditor said the county had submitted unaudited financial statements and that the state auditor's exit review had not yet been scheduled; county finance staff said they have followed up several times with the state audit team.

Quotes

\"I would propose we put together a supplemental, but we do not advertise it…so that we know, we can get the financials in from January to know where our revenue kind of sits,\" Pam Johnson, Okanogan County Treasurer, said when describing next steps.

Next steps

County staff said they will draft supplemental materials and, barring improved January receipts, advertise a public hearing for mid-February. Staff will also prepare the BECCA transfer documents and finalize the juvenile revenue accounting entries. Officials said they will monitor state legislative action on jail medical funding and revisit county liability if the state enactment is confirmed.

Ending

Treasurer and auditor staff will return to the committee with finalized supplemental language and the BECCA transfer; the committee asked staff to wait until early February actuals arrive before finalizing the public-notice amount so the advertised supplemental can be reduced if revenue receipts improve.

","County finance staff proposed a potential supplemental appropriation from current expense reserves, prepared a BECCA-related transfer, and discussed that jail medical expense responsibility may revert to the state later in the year.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6396000,"Okanogan County tells Aeneas/\"Enia Slate\" irrigation district to end use of registered warrants by Dec. 31, 2025",3990,2256000,6246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2097689-a374339e47690b3313281696f342b22d&start=2256&end=6246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2097689-a374339e47690b3313281696f342b22d/thumbnail_2256000.jpg","/articles/6396000/Okanogan-County/Washington/Okanogan-County-tells-AeneasEnia-Slate-irrigation-district-to-end-use-of-registered-warrants-by-Dec-31-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6396000-8f45e2fd49a33b4f1483e791bc723ecd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175022&Signature=VLzQI3AC7Oa1X-WBNwXbXAIZ~Dz3Hn0tiOvn579tiUmYLfbxegyAvbBQqTcs5~WjZn22sx6a7a1dXvSTxS6R10eutv~8-oy-GxfLsLmvY9zRYlXfbdUHBo6ObuLx8Ur1pGi5wEuB50nPOgDb3o2NqIKy-~7kG0-AmJUor6AphBRvPzympGipyg3hMiOBq8OMyFKgakvp29eeq9HacudeaKMwRrKiqimY7Wo2F9vqm4ASk6Ti1dUlwL4jWhmnthaqlAHzblN7D3MkJG1nGHmRG1oKiaeyb9qG7z3-FfeAUUlfbwEoAa3jyobpSZ5xzPe33bOJDMelFPMOVh-mXheMNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Okanogan County Treasurer Pam Johnson told representatives of the Aeneas (referenced in the record as “Enia Slate”) irrigation district that the county will not treat registered warrants as an open-ended funding source and has set December 31, 2025 as the deadline for the district to come off registered warrants.

Johnson said the district was given three years after first moving to registered warrants in 2021 and that “that 3 years ended December 31, 2024” and that the county extended the arrangement for one additional year: “So there is an end date of December 31, 2025 to be off of register warrants.”

The discussion, at a Finance Committee meeting that included county auditors and district board members, focused on how the district can reach solvency without continuing to draw on other local governments’ pooled funds. Irrigation officials warned that without the district in operation some private wells and wells that support ranching and orchards could run dry. Jack Denison, who identified himself as the district board chair, described efforts to reduce debt and to pursue projects intended to reduce operating costs.

Why it matters: registered warrants are effectively short-term IOUs that use other entities’ pooled cash to meet district obligations. County staff said the practice poses a fiscal risk to other depositors if warrants are relied on indefinitely. The county’s direction makes a deadline and pushes the district to identify revenue or outside funding to cover operations and repairs.

Most important facts

- The county says the irrigation district was allowed to use registered warrants (a limited, temporary authority) starting in 2021 and the county set an explicit end date of Dec. 31, 2025.

- The district’s most recent reported outstanding shortfall was cited at about $66,000; the district’s board and county staff discussed a proposed capital project with an earlier bid “just under $200,000.” County staff estimated a 25% cost-share would be roughly $50,000.

- District leaders reported current assessed charges at about $3.80 per acre and told county staff the district contains roughly 1,164 irrigable acres. County staff and outside advisors told the board the district likely must raise rates substantially (one staff estimate discussed raising rates toward the $400–$450 per-acre range) to cover operations and build reserves if it cannot secure outside grant or loan funds.

- County staff placed a temporary administrative hold on issuing any additional registered warrants for the district until the district returns a signed registered-warrant policy to the treasurer’s office.

Discussion and options considered

County staff and the district discussed multiple paths to solvency:

- Rate adjustments and a structured resolution. County staff explained the district’s status as an assessment (not a taxing) district and described how the board could certify new rates to the treasurer for a supplemental tax-roll correction if the district votes to raise assessments midyear. Treasurer Johnson suggested writing a resolution that specified an amount and a time-limited term (for example, a multi-year increase tied to a project) so that members would know the duration of any increase.

- Grants and cost-share programs. District members reported pending applications to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and WaterSmart, and said NRCS could fund 50–75% of a pump/VFD upgrade project; the district was revising scopes and expected an outcome by end of March for one application. County staff also recommended contacting the Department of Ecology and the State Treasurer’s local program and suggested the district might qualify for a 0% loan from Ecology for capital projects.

- Loans for capital projects. County staff said state loan programs or bank financing might be possible for a definable capital project (as opposed to borrowing against cash-flow shortfalls). Staff cautioned commercial lenders will not make loans to cover ongoing registered-warrant deficits but may consider loans tied to a revenue-backed project.

- Nonpaying users and enforcement. The board described habitual delinquents and explained how foreclosure after three years is statutorily available; the treasurer noted RCW procedures require a three-year process before those assessments go to foreclosure. County staff discussed options to physically lock or isolate turnouts but said retrofitting laterals and valves could be a costly capital project (staff gave a rough estimate of at least $50,000 to install remote lockout capability for every turnout).

Quotes

“That 3 years ended December 31, 2024. You did not come off of register warrants at that time. So we extended it for 1 year for you to come off of register warrants… There is an end date of December 31, 2025 to be off of register warrants,” Pam Johnson, Okanogan County Treasurer, said during the meeting.

“We are working diligently to do what we need to do… we keep running into some dead end roads,” Jack Denison, board chair for the irrigation district, said, describing attempts to find funding and reduce debt.

Next steps and immediate directions

- Treasurer Johnson told the district she will not issue additional registered warrants until the district returns a signed registered-warrant policy to the treasurer’s office.

- The district agreed to pursue updated project cost estimates and to prepare a budget/resolution showing how a rate increase would be structured (term, per-acre amount and expected annual revenue) so the county can evaluate whether the district will be solvent by the end of 2025.

- County staff offered to contact state program contacts, including Ecology and the State Treasurer’s local program, and to meet with the district again at the end of March to review progress.

Background

County staff outlined that registered warrants are an emergency/temporary financing practice and that continuing to rely on pooled funds exposes other depositors (schools, taxing districts) to liquidity risk. The district and county also discussed water-level and habitat issues: the irrigation system supports local wells, ranching and public-access lakes, and state wildlife agencies have raised concerns about maintaining lake levels.

Ending

District representatives said they will pursue grant/loan options and prepare a formal rate-resolution if needed. County staff said it will re-evaluate the district’s status after the district provides the requested policy and updated cost/revenue materials.

","County treasurer and staff pressed the Aeneas/Enia Slate irrigation district to stop relying on registered warrants, set a Dec. 31, 2025 target to come off warrants, and outlined options including rate increases, grants and loans to cover a roughly $200,000 project and long-term solvency needs.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Okanogan County Finance Committee approves consent agenda, minutes and insurance change

Okanogan County finance staff plan supplemental fund and BECCA transfer; jail medical funding discussed

Okanogan County tells Aeneas/"Enia Slate" irrigation district to end use of registered warrants by Dec. 31, 2025