🚤 1% Levy Vote, Winter Emergency, and Boat Launch Changes - Skamania BOCC 12/16-12/17
Skamania commissioners adopted the 2026 county budget (2–1) with a 1% levy increase, approved year-end Supplemental Budget #4, and declared a winter-storm emergency. Earlier in the week they passed a new boat launch ordinance raising fees and limiting out-of-county guide permits.
🏛 Skamania County Commissioners Recap – Dec. 16–17, 2025
Boat launch rules get tougher + 2026 budget adopted (with a 1% levy increase)
With thanks to the Documenters who share their notes under CC BY 4.0 - credit Columbia Gorge Documenters, powered by Uplift Local. Find out more: https://upliftlocal.news/columbia-gorge/columbia-gorge-documenters/.
🚤 Dec. 16: Boat Launch Ordinance (fees + guide limits + enforcement)
Commissioners approved a new Boat Launch Ordinance (Ordinance 2025-05) aimed at reducing congestion and safety issues at Wind River (Home Valley) and Drano Lake launches, after a busy season that included accidents and access problems (including hatchery workers struggling to reach work due to congestion).
Key changes discussed and adopted:
- Resident annual permit: $10 → $20
- Non-resident annual permit: $75 → $100
- County guide service permit: $250 → $300
- Out-of-county guide permit: $500, limited to 40 total permits (first-come, first-served)
- Out-of-county guides restricted from Home Valley until capacity improves, due to parking/safety constraints there.
- Commissioners emphasized stronger enforcement, including bringing in code enforcement support (not only sheriff’s deputies).
Public testimony themes:
- Several speakers supported the ordinance but stressed it won’t work without enforcement.
- One resident asked for the out-of-county guide cap to be lower than 40.
- A representative of the Washington Guide Association raised concerns about how out-of-county guides will be notified, and the logistics of client parking/transportation if customers can’t park at the launch areas.
- Staff said guide permits typically go on sale the last week of the year and are currently purchased through the county office; commissioners suggested they could ask WDFW to help share notices.
Also approved (legal action):
Commissioners voted to authorize county legal counsel to join available amicus briefs supporting a lawsuit challenging the state’s expanded buffers on non-fish-bearing streams.
🧑‍💼 Dec. 16: Department head reports: storms, roads, and public health cuts
Public Works / Community Development (David Waymire):
- Crews focused heavily on storm response, including multiple landslides, downed trees, and culvert issues; commissioners praised the road crew’s long hours reopening key routes (including Sky Road).
- Waymire reported that all “unmapped lands” updates are now complete in GIS (a long-running county mapping cleanup project).
- Updates included Wind River Business Park work (addresses/signage), fairgrounds maintenance and grant pursuits, and preparations for winter monitoring.
Community Health (Tamara Cissell + staff):
- Behavioral health staffing improved: a new therapist started, a crisis counselor agreement is in place (credentialing pending), and interns are planned for 2026 and 2027.
- The department is bracing for potential statewide public health funding cuts, tied to changes in how vape tax revenues are structured and uncertainty about future allocations.
Commissioner updates included: transportation projects and SR-14 safety concerns, Secure Rural Schools (SRS) updates, and recurring worries about winter access and plowing for Forest Road 90 to the north end of the county.
đź’° Dec. 17: Budget public hearing + 2026 budget adopted
At a short evening public hearing, commissioners:
- Adopted Supplemental Budget #4 for 2025 (Resolution 2025-35) with no public testimony submitted.SCBD12-17-25
- Adopted the 2026 Skamania County Budget (Resolution 2025-34) using Option A, which includes a 1% property tax increase for both current expense and county road funds. The vote was 2–1 (Nichols and Farris in favor; Chair Leckie opposed).
What the 1% levy means for Skamania property owners:
Under Washington law, counties may increase existing property tax levies by up to 1% each year without voter approval. This is not a new tax or a surcharge on higher-value homes; it applies proportionally to all taxable property in the levy area. In Skamania County, commissioners estimated the average impact at roughly $3-$4 per property owner per year. The board debated the increase not because of its size, but because of cumulative cost-of-living pressures on residents and the long-term budget implications of either using or foregoing the 1% authority.
What “Option A vs. Option B” meant:
- Option A: 1% increase for current expense + county road
- Option B: 1% increase for county road only
Budget totals presented:
- Option A total budget: $67,138,235
- Option B total budget: $67,111,139
Why commissioners split:
- Chair Leckie argued for limiting new tax burden given rising costs residents face (state-level increases, “carbon tax,” etc.), even if the county’s portion is small.
- Commissioner Nichols supported Option A partly to preserve “banked capacity” rules (arguing skipping the 1% now could enable a future board to raise more later without voter checks), and because they’re simultaneously advocating for outside revenue sources like SRS/encumbered lands.
- Commissioner Farris also supported Option A, citing the optics of saying the county needs more funding while choosing not to take the 1%, and noted prior budget decisions this year (including raises for elected officials).
They then adopted follow-on levy/certification items:
- Resolution 2025-32 (current expense levy)
- Resolution 2025-33 (county road levy)
- Certification of levies to the assessorSCBD12-17-25
đź“Ś Practical note for readers: Boat Launch permits for 2026
A county press release announced that all 2026 boat launch permits go on sale Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025 at 8:00 a.m., with updated fees and guide rules.
🏛 How to Join the Next Skamania County Commissioners Meeting
đź“… Tuesday at 9:30 AM
đź“Ť In person: Skamania County Courthouse Annex, Room 19
240 NW Vancouver Ave, Stevenson
đź’» Join by Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88906321210
đź“ž Call in (audio only):
1-253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 889 0632 1210
đź—Ł Public comment is taken at the beginning of the meeting.
✉️ Written comments may be emailed to commissioners@co.skamania.wa.us by 12:00 PM the day before the meeting.