SKAGIT COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Skagit County Commissioners announced on Friday, Oct. 3, they are implementing an immediate 90-day hiring freeze.
In a press release, the Commissioners explained their decision comes as the county faces a $19 million deficit in the general fund for their 2026 budget. They say they are considering all available options to balance next year’s budget including layoffs, reducing non-essential services and reprioritizing projects.
One option they are considering is adding a new public safety sales tax permitted by the recently adopted House Bill 2015, a decision that the City Council will be voting on next week here in Bellingham.
In the meantime, the Skagit Commissioners say the hiring freeze will ensure no positions are filled that might need to be soon eliminated under a new budget.
The preliminary 2026 county budget will be released and open for public comment on November 17th.
