Washoe County Board of Commissioners Meeting - May 19, 2026

The Washoe County Board of Commissioners met on May 19, 2026, to conduct a public hearing and adopt the Fiscal Year 2027 Tentative and Final Budget, approve the five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for FY2027-2031, and hold a strategic planning workshop on housing capacity, growth constraints, and prioritized development areas. The meeting included public comments on election materials, disability rights, library services, and transparency concerns, followed by detailed presentations and board discussion.

Consent Calendar

No consent calendar items were listed or acted upon separately; the budget and CIP were considered individually.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tammy Hold (public comment): Expressed confusion over sample ballot format (stars vs. bubbles) and argued the current system is not simple, transparent, or clear, especially for seniors and rural residents with limited internet access. Called for improvements.
• Terry Brooks: Addressed discrimination against people with physical disabilities, urging the county to uphold social responsibility and not discriminate.
• Randy McCort & Kelly McKinnon (Reno Sparks Chamber Leadership Class): Stated they were fulfilling a civic duty project by making public comment; no specific agenda item addressed.
• Sean Sullivan: Spoke in favor of library services and applied for a library board position. Voiced support for providing access to all books, including controversial ones, and highlighted budget challenges for libraries.
• Jacob Claudvelter (Nevada Department of Veterans Services): Also part of the leadership class; made a brief public comment.
• Laura Wetherington: Expressed strong support for the Washoe County Library system, describing it as a beacon of democracy. Opposed restricting access to library materials and services, arguing the library should reflect diverse community interests.
• Penny Brack: Raised transparency concerns: the Budget 101 PowerPoint not being posted, undisclosed taxpayer costs for a voter data project, and the lack of a commission vote or public comment for that project. Also questioned data privacy with the entity SIS.
• Alexis Miren (Children's Advocacy Alliance): Introduced herself as a new health policy manager, stating the organization focuses on child welfare, health, and early childhood. Expressed interest in collaborating with Washoe County and other counties.

Discussion Items

• Fiscal Year 2027 Tentative and Final Budget (Item 4): CFO Abby Yacobin and Budget Director Lori Cook presented the $1.138 billion final budget. Key changes from tentative: no net new positions overall; general fund decline of 2.78 FTEs; library budget moved entirely to general fund; increased transfers to Northern Nevada Public Health ($11.5M) and road fund ($4M); contingency raised to 2% (statutory max 3% in forecast). The five-year forecast shows a structural deficit in outer years. Commissioners discussed the 27% population growth vs. 0.7% FTE decline, indigent tax levy history, and the difference between indigent and homeless funds. Commissioner Clark questioned when staff workload would become unsustainable. The board approved the budget (Commissioner Clark absent for vote).
• Capital Improvement Plan FY2027-2031 (Item 5): Lori Cook presented the $123.2 million year-one CIP, covering roads, parks, utilities, facilities, and technology. Key new projects include Hawkins Amphitheater and North Valleys Regional Park (pending grants), ERP modernization, and public safety radio (P25). The long-term capital needs list totals $400–600 million without identified funding. Commissioners discussed payments to the state highway fund and economic slowdown protections. Motion to approve passed unanimously.
• Strategic Planning Workshop – Housing, Growth, and Infrastructure (Item 6, discussion only): Assistant County Manager Dave Solero facilitated with presentations from TMRPA Director Jeremy Smith, Reno Housing Authority Executive Director Hilary Lopez, County Engineer Dwayne Smith, and Community Services Director Eric Crump. Topics covered: regional plan tiers (TMSA, Tier 1-3), housing needs and RHA's role (serving 11,000 Nevadans annually, 10,000 on wait list), infrastructure challenges (pavement condition index at 68, increasing maintenance costs), and the concept of prioritized development areas with incentives (land use, fees, tax incentives) to focus growth where infrastructure exists. Commissioners expressed interest in moving forward, convening stakeholders, and using data-driven approaches. No action taken; workshop to continue on June 2.

Key Outcomes

• Budget Adoption (Item 4): Approved the FY2027 Final Budget (estimated appropriations $1,138,146,582) with changes from tentative including one new FTE in Sheriff's alternative sentencing unit and de minimis adjustments. Commissioner Clark was absent from the vote; all other commissioners voted aye.
• CIP Approval (Item 5): Approved the five-year Capital Improvement Plan for FY2027-2031, directing the County Manager to submit to the State by August 1, 2026. Motion passed unanimously.
• Strategic Planning Direction (Item 6): Board provided guidance to staff to continue exploring prioritized development areas and incentives. Staff directed to convene stakeholders and return with more detailed analysis. The next workshop is scheduled for June 2, 2026.