 September 2025
Greetings, District 1 Residents!
As your County Commissioner, I am committed to working with Commissioners Walters and Root to solve our biggest challenge this fall — adopting a balanced budget with a spending plan that can be sustained over time. Like many counties across Washington state, Kitsap is facing significant financial pressures that have required proactive solutions throughout 2025. If there were no changes to spending, we would be projecting an $8 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2026, with similar challenges expected in future years.
This is because our revenues aren't keeping pace with increasing expenses. The 1% cap on property taxes, combined with modest sales tax growth — just 1.5% in 2023, 3% in 2024, and 2% projected for 2025 — simply isn't enough to meet rising costs.
The current $609 million budget includes a $134 million General Fund that faces significant pressures from personnel, insurance, and the costs of maintaining the services our community expects.
Throughout 2025, County leaders have taken a proactive, transparent approach to address these challenges head-on. This summer we conducted the County’s first community survey in 20 years for valuable community feedback that can directly inform our budget priorities and program designs. In June, we instituted a hiring freeze to give departments time to make necessary budget adjustments with the least impact to services and reduce the need for layoffs. Last week, all County departments and offices formally unveiled their 2026 spending proposals, significantly reducing projected spending by the millions of dollars. We'll be incorporating public input throughout subsequent deliberations.
Multiple opportunities remain for engagement, including public comment sessions at our regular Board meetings on Oct. 13 and Oct. 27, followed by the official Budget Public Hearing on Dec. 1. Final adoption is scheduled for Dec. 8. All meetings will be held in the Kitsap County Administration Building in Port Orchard, with online access available.
Recordings of our September budget presentations are available through Bremerton-Kitsap Access Television. This transparency ensures that residents can see firsthand how your tax dollars are being allocated and how we're working to balance fiscal responsibility with community needs.
Your input continues to matter throughout this process. Please share your thoughts with me at crolfes@kitsap.gov or contact all commissioners at KitsapCommissioners@kitsap.gov.
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 Our Department of Community Development has achieved remarkable results through its PREP (Permit Review Enhancement Program) initiative. Since the first of the year, DCD staff has reduced permitting delays from 21 weeks to just four weeks — dramatically improving government services for residents and businesses.
This transformation reflects our commitment to making County government more efficient and responsive to community needs. For more information on PREP, visit our Permit Pathways page.
Thank you for the tremendous community support for maintaining what remains of our County's rural character. The comprehensive plan update for rural areas continues moving forward with extensive community input now being incorporated into the process.
The Year of the Rural project brings back a more robust rural chapter to our Comprehensive Plan that acknowledges what a preferred rural Kitsap looks like for the next 20 years.
Regarding equestrian facilities, we've heard your concerns about proposed regulations and are working through a collaborative process. Following a dedicated meeting with about 25 industry representatives earlier this month, we're forming a workgroup of equine industry experts to help refine the approach and ensure regulations reflect the reality of horse ownership in Kitsap County.
Community members still have until Nov. 10 to review drafts and submit comments for the Year of the Rural. The Board of County Commissioners public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 10. Your feedback continues to shape policies that balance rural character with reasonable development opportunities. The path forward reflects your priorities and commitment to preserving rural Kitsap.
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This Saturday! Veterans: Fall Stand Down Event
The Kitsap Area Veterans Alliance is hosting their Fall Stand Down this Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sheridan Park Community Center in Bremerton. This important annual event provides comprehensive services for veterans and their families, including legal assistance, clothing, dental screening, hot meals, hygiene items, VA claims assistance, employment referrals, and housing options.
Veterans must bring DD214 or discharge papers for entry. Check out the flyer below and please help spread the word about these vital resources.
We're also pleased to announce that Steve Corcoran is our new Veterans Program Coordinator. He can be reached via email at scorcoran@kitsap.gov, or by calling 360.337.4811 or 360.227.9093. You can also learn more on our Veterans webpage.
 Discover Kingston Open House — Sept. 29
 You're invited to join more than 60 local organizations and agencies at Discover Kingston, an annual community open house taking place Monday, Sept. 29, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Village Green Community Center, 26159 Dulay Road NE in Kingston.
This drop-in event, coordinated by the Kingston Community Advisory Council, offers residents the opportunity to learn about local projects, services, youth programs, and recreational activities all in one place.
Whether you're wondering about ferry traffic management, looking for volunteer opportunities, or seeking local trail information, this lively event with lots of giveaways is your one-stop resource. Newcomers and longtime residents alike are welcome!
For more information, visit https://kcowa.us/KingstonCAC.
Celebrating Conservation in Eglon — Oct. 11
Kitsap County has successfully completed the transfer of 705.8 acres of beautiful forestland from the Washington Department of Natural Resources. This significant addition to our North Kitsap conservation portfolio caps off several years of collaborative work to preserve vital fish and wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities.
The Eglon property features wetlands, 130-year-old landmark trees, and a salmon-bearing stream that's popular with anglers. It also contains a user-built recreation and commuter trail that's already well-loved by the community. With this transfer complete, the County's park and open space inventory now stands at approximately 11,400 acres.
Join us for a community celebration and trail walking event on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 10 to 11 a.m. This transfer represents the kind of thoughtful, long-term stewardship that ensures these ecological treasures and recreational opportunities remain available for future generations.
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Join Us for the Island Lake Town Hall — Oct. 29
I'll be hosting a town hall meeting focused on important issues affecting the Island Lake area on Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Island Lake Community Building, 1087 NW Island Lake Road in Poulsbo.
We'll discuss the status of the Meadowdale development project including proposed improvements like sidewalks, results of the Silverdale Water District water study, what it would take to form a Lake Management District to manage pollutants, and whatever else is on your mind. Representatives from relevant County departments and the Silverdale Water District will be present to answer questions.
This is your opportunity to learn about and provide input on these important local issues.
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Check out my Kingston Chamber Presentation — Oct. 2
Wondering what's next for Kingston? Or interested in the latest County news? I'll be speaking at the Greater Kingston Community Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Village Green Community Center.
This is a great opportunity to discuss local issues and for me to answer your questions. For more information on the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce, visit kingstonchamber.com.
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A 'Week Without Driving' — Sept. 29 to Oct. 5
From Sept. 29 through Oct. 5, communities across the nation will participate in a Week Without Driving—a challenge designed to help those who can drive understand the daily realities faced by the nearly one-third of Americans who don't or can't drive due to age, disability, or financial constraints.
As someone who serves on the Kitsap Transit board, I'll be participating by commuting from Bainbridge to Port Orchard via transit one day, which I know will be a challenge. I encourage District 1 residents to consider joining this important initiative to better understand how our communities can better serve everyone through improved transportation equity.
Learn more and sign up at https://weekwithoutdriving.org.
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If you live in District 1, from Hansville to north Highway 303 in Silverdale, consider applying to serve on a Kitsap County advisory group. Share your experience and insights to help support our communities; create plans and strategies to accommodate growth and development; and implement programs that ensure and improve quality of life.
Current vacancies: Suquamish Community Advisory Council.
We're looking for a high school student as well as a community member to serve on the Suquamish Community Advisory Council. This is an excellent opportunity to help shape decisions affecting the Suquamish area.
Advisory group members are appointed by County Commissioners and play an essential role in local government, serving as conduits between residents, businesses, communities, County staff, and commissioners.
Learn more about County advisory groups and find position descriptions for current vacancies at kcowa.us/advisorygroups.
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