The Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted the Fiscal Year 27 budget, which begins July 1, 2026, as well as the five-year Capital Improvement Plan.
The $1.14 billion budget was built to support the Board’s strategic focus areas – mental health, senior services, and infrastructure – while continuing its goals of maintaining services, supporting employees, and using reserve funds wisely.
Division Director of Budget Lori Cooke presented Washoe County’s proposed FY27 budget, highlighting that there are no new net positions in any funds, and the General Fund reflects budgeted salary savings across all departments.
The adopted budget is considered final, and any changes at this point must follow Nevada Revised Statutes and Nevada Administrative Code. It will be submitted to the Nevada Department of Taxation by June 1. Washoe County will host a “Budget 101” for residents this summer to help them understand how the budget is built and how to use the Washoe Checkbook to view real-time expenditures and revenues.
In conjunction with the FY27 budget, Cooke presented the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which is a rolling five-year plan for infrastructure projects that will cost more than $100,000 and have a lifespan of longer than one year. The CIP comprises the Capital Improvements Fund, Capital Facilities Tax Fund, Parks Fund, Utilities Fund, Roads Fund, Equipment Services Fund, and Other Funds. The total CIP over the next five years is just over $558 million.
Among this year’s CIP projects is the Registrar of Voters warehouse, a $3.4 million project that will house all operations, personnel, and storage for elections when it is complete. The Parks Fund includes new lighting and sound equipment at Hawkins Amphitheater, as well as an amphitheater and pollinator garden at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. More than $63 million is allocated for the Utilities Fund, to be spent across numerous stormwater and water treatment projects.
Following the budget discussions, the Board conducted a workshop centered on growth, housing, and infrastructure. The discussion was an opportunity for the commissioners to provide strategic insight and direction to staff, and no votes were taken.
