County Delivers Progress on Infrastructure and Community Services
CONTACT: Susan Melnyk, Chief Communications Manager, (360) 867-2097 or susan.melnyk@co.thurston.wa.us
County Delivers Progress on Infrastructure and Community Services
Strategic investments and focused decision-making helped deliver results for residents in 2025.
OLYMPIA – Thurston County government closed 2025 with a list of pivotal accomplishments despite political and economic headwinds. Faced with flattening tax revenues and a projected $9 million funding gap for 2026, County officials pivoted to an aggressive, grant-heavy strategy that prioritized long-term infrastructure and community safety over short-term band-aids.
The results, according to a year-end retrospective provided by the County, suggest an agency in the midst of sophisticated modernization. By securing millions of dollars in federal and state partnerships, and putting bond-funds in play, Thurston County invested in infrastructure upgrades, regional water security, and environmental restoration without dipping into its general fund – the account that pays for community services.
“Despite fiscal challenges, we aren’t sitting idle. We’re working every day to improve access to services and provide award-winning programs while simultaneously trimming the budget thanks to the dedication of county staff and elected officials,” said Board of County Commissioners Chair Tye Menser.
That work didn’t go unnoticed: Thurston County brought home 19 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards this year — more than any other county in Washington — and a Project of Impact award from the Washington States Association of Counties.
The County’s actions centered on improving quality of life, enhancing community safety, increasing accessibility, and ensuring responsible stewardship for future generations - and according to Thurston County Manager, Leonard Hernandez this focus and the resulting successes are no accident. “Big wins like this in the face of fiscal and political challenges are a direct result of quality decisions by county staff. We benefit from a strong team of experienced professionals and it’s paying off for our community when we need it most.”
List of key 2025 wins:
Major Capital Investments & Funding
Central to the county's strategy was securing critical funding and completing major capital acquisitions designed to modernize core services and address regional needs.
- Downtown Headquarters Acquisition: The Board approved the purchase of a seven-acre site in downtown Olympia. This strategic acquisition will serve as the future centralized headquarters and a modernized hub for law and justice services.
- Sheriff’s HQ Purchase: Moving away from fragmented operations, the county finalized a new, centralized Sheriff’s Office headquarters, a move funded by the community-backed Public Safety Sales Tax.
- Regional Water Security Grant: A landmark grant from the Department of Ecology will purchase 800-acre feet of water rights. This is a regional "watershed-level" win, ensuring homebuilding can continue through 2040 while permanently protecting the health of the Skookumchuck and Chehalis Rivers.
- Green Cove Creek Restoration: A failing 1970s culvert was replaced with a new 150-foot bridge. The project—leveraging millions in federal funds—reopened half a mile of salmon habitat and protected road access for 65 homes.
- Upgraded Utilities: Significant improvements to the sewer and water systems at Boston Harbor and Tamoshan were completed, marking an important milestone in the County’s continued investment in reliable infrastructure and environmental protection.
- Emergency & Ag Center: $1.25M in federal and state funding will go towards the proposed Fairgrounds Evacuation and Agricultural Center, a dual-purpose hub for livestock emergency evacuation and year-round youth education.
- High-Capacity Garbage Infrastructure: A high-power compactor was installed at the Waste and Recovery Center, ensuring the county’s trash disposal remains reliable as the population grows.
- Improvements Planned for Main Street in Rochester: Community input will inform the final design for improved sidewalks, lighting, and marked crossings in downtown Rochester. The pedestrian safety project will be funded with $1M in Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) awarded to the county in December.
Leading the Way in Awards and Accurate Assessments
- Most NACo Awards in Washington: The County’s innovative, community-focused programs and projects garnered 19 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties - more than any other Washington county.
- Voter Education Videos Win Several Awards for excellence in voter education and communications, including a Clearinghouse Award from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and Project of Impact Award from the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC).
- Most Accurate Assessments in the State: The most accurate ratio of assessed values compared to market value of all counties in Washington State at 97.9% for 2025
Public Safety: A Modernized Front Line
While departments across the country struggled with staffing and aging tech, Thurston County invested heavily in its personnel and equipment.
- Closing the Staffing Gap: While jails nationwide face crises, the Thurston County Jail is fully staffed.
- Safety Through Tech: The county rolled out "Grappler" and "StarChase" pursuit intervention tools and completed a full upgrade of body and dash cameras to ensure transparency and officer safety. The County’s fleet repair facility became the first in the nation certified to install Grappler equipment.
- Data in the Field: Over 100 new mobile computers were deployed to deputies, giving field officers real-time access to critical data.
The Community Center: Access and Justice
The county’s 2025 focus remained squarely on the people it serves, from voters and veterans to those navigating the justice system.
- Continued Commitment to Veterans: With one of Washington State's largest veteran populations, Thurston County continues to prioritize providing resources and services specifically tailored for veterans and their families, including funding and staff for the Lacey Veterans Services Hub, emergency housing and financial aid for veterans, and the annual Veterans Resource and Job Fair.
- Elections Integrity and Accessibility: A new, high-transparency Ballot Processing Center opened this year, streamlining the voting process and enhancing security, combined with additional voting centers to improve access for seniors and voters with disabilities.
- Dashboard to Improve Case Processing: Using data from the Prosecuting Attorney’s case management system, this public dashboard provides a clear picture of decision points and outcomes, with the aim to improve case processing times.
- Closed Cases and Victim Advocacy: The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office received 6,400 criminal cases, filed 5,058, diverted 344, and closed 3,567 with 2,048 guilty pleas or verdicts. Victim advocates provided trauma-informed support and guidance in 1,086 cases.
- Expanding the Resource Hub: The county’s behavioral health and justice support center moved to a dramatically larger space. It is projected to hit 2,500 visits this year, including a massive community block party in August.
- Pretrial Reform: The Pretrial Services Diversion program remains the largest in the county, connecting 140 active participants to treatment and support rather than incarceration, and supervising close to 600 individuals on pretrial release at any given time.
- Recreation & Environment: The first 2.7-mile segment of the Gate-Belmore Trail opened, offering walkers and cyclists rare prairie views and a new 21-stall trailhead along a historic rail corridor.
Fending off Cyberattacks to Protect Public Funds and Employee Pay
Behind the scenes, the county’s "invisible" backbone was hardened against modern threats.
- Cybersecurity Defense: With consistent updates and monitoring of the county’s technical systems, the IT security team thwarted a sophisticated, large-scale phishing attack at the end of September that targeted the county’s payroll, successfully protecting public funds and employee bank accounts.
Expanding Access to Emergency Services and Public Health
From expanded medic units to improved language access, the county continued to lead the way in emergency preparation and public health services.
- Emergency Services Expand and Activate: Emergency Services provided support during the Rainier / Tenino wildland fires, led countywide coordination during December’s severe weather, deployed the county’s eighth medic unit, launched the first accredited EMS system for point-of-care ultrasound in the nation, and trained 2,756 community members in CPR.
- Community Weighs in on the Future of Health: More than 1,800 residents were surveyed for the Community Health Assessment to identify community health needs and inform the Community Health Improvement Plan.
- Project Safer Launched: 45 law enforcement officers and 19 agencies were trained to bridge the gap between first responders and those with developmental disabilities, improving understanding and building trust between the two groups.
- Language Access Expanded: In addition to the county’s multilingual website, Public Health expanded their face-to-face, phone and virtual translation options to serve the community. Languages include American Sign Language (ASL), Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Ukrainian, among others. In 2025, the county used the service for 223 community health calls in 13 languages.
To learn more about Thurston County’s big wins, visit www.ThurstonCountyWA.gov/highlights