Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) was notified of an influenza-related death of a Thurston County resident. To date, the Washington State Department of Health has reported 39 lab-confirmed influenza deaths for the 2025-2026 season, higher than the 5 reported this time last season.

As your County Auditor, I believe in being an open book. I want you to see how we count ballots, how we test our machines, and how we ensure every legal vote is counted. But there is one area where I have to draw a hard line on what I share publicly: the specific technical "blueprints" of our security systems.

Thurston County has been recognized by the Washington Public Treasurer’s Association (WPTA) for excellence in its approach to investing the public funds under its care. The 2026 Certificate of Excellence Award for Investment Policy - which was awarded after rigorous review of the County’s policy by a statewide panel - highlights the sophisticated operation and the professional staff that function as the financial engine of the County.

Thurston County government closed 2025 with a list of pivotal accomplishments despite political and economic headwinds. Check out our 2025 year-end retrospective to see the community-focused service and modernization efforts achieved by securing millions of dollars in federal and state partnerships, and putting bond-funds in play. Learn more...

The Thurston County Clerk’s Office today announced that its in-person customer service counters will be closed from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, effective January 20, 2026. Services remain available online.

The County secured a $2.4 million grant agreement from the Washington State Department of Ecology to purchase about 800-acre feet of water rights from the TransAlta Water Bank. One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons of water — equivalent to the water use of 2-3 average households. The investment represents an innovative way to meet state requirements to offset impacts of new permit-exempt wells and permanently dedicate water back to the Lower Skookumchuck and Chehalis rivers.