Skamania County Board of Commissioners

Title III emergency funds are secured, but bureaucratic delays threaten youth programs. Plus, a legislative wrap-up reveals how state budget maneuvers could cost Skamania's infrastructure.

Skamania County faces impending state-level public health budget cuts while grappling with the aging infrastructure of local homeless shelters and ongoing debates over guide access at the Wind River boat launch.

Early March Board of County Commissioners meetings tackled immediate local frustrations and looming state-level threats. Beneath routine approvals were major signals about recreational access, tax policy impacts, housing assistance, and long-term infrastructure maintenance.

January was a dense month for Skamania County commissioners. Across three meetings, the board navigated storm recovery, federal land-management challenges, public-safety funding pressures, and early signals about the long road ahead for the Gorge Management Plan 2030 process.

Skamania commissioners kicked off 2026 with routine approvals, leadership assignments, and early warning signs to watch this year, including uncertainty around Dog Mountain shuttle funding, public safety concerns, and long-term planning tied to the Gorge Management Plan 2030 Update.

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.

Commissioners heard strong public objections to the Underwood zoning ordinance (now delayed), reviewed tight year-end revenues, and grappled with rising jail overtime, delayed state funds, and justice-system staffing strain.