Contact:

Meghan Porter, Public Information Supervisor, 360-490-0562, or email at meghan.porter@co.thurston.wa.us 

OLYMPIA – The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners invite the public to provide comment at a public hearing on July 19, 2022 at 3:30 p.m. on a proposed ballot measure to increase the number of Thurston County Commissioners from three to five. The ballot measure would be included on the general election ballot in November. 

Yesterday, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) released updated population numbers confirming that Thurston County has met the population threshold of 300,000 or more to introduce a ballot proposition for a vote to authorize the board be increased to five members. 

“Following the joint resolution with the Port of Olympia approved in the fall of 2021, this is the next step in the process for the board to ask the voters to approve the increase to five members as, according to OFM, the population of Thurston County is now estimated at 300,500,” said County Manager, Ramiro Chavez. “This has been a collaborative effort with the Port of Olympia, and it is expected they will take similar action to place a ballot measure during the general election to increase the Port’s board to five members as well.” 

Chavez added, “Per state law, the threshold to ask the voters to increase the board to five is when Thurston County’s population hits 300,000. After the county reaches a population of 400,000, it will be mandatory to move to a five-commissioner board.”  

What: Public Hearing on Proposed Ballot Measure to Move to Five Commission Board

When: Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at 3:30 p.m., or as soon as can be heard thereafter

Where: Thurston County Courthouse, Building 1, Room 280, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, WA 98502

Attend Virtually: Meeting information is available on the board’s Public Meetings and Public Hearings webpage. 

Written Comments: You can submit written comments to Jamie Caldwell, Clerk of the Board, at Jamie.Caldwell@co.thurston.wa.us no later than 5:00 p.m. Monday, July 18, if you are unable to attend the public hearing. You can also mail, or hand deliver comments to: 

Thurston County Board of County Commissioners

Attn: Jamie Caldwell, Clerk of the Board

Thurston County Courthouse, Building 1

2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW

Olympia WA, 98502 

To view the draft resolution, visit: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/tchome/tchomedocuments/DRAFTResolution…;

Disability Accommodations: Room 280 is equipped with an assistive listening system and is wheelchair accessible. To request disability accommodations, call the Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator at least three days prior to the meeting at 360-786-5440. Persons with speech or hearing disabilities may call via Washington Relay:  711 or 800-833-6388.

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