The League of Women Voters of Kittitas County hosted a free public panel discussion attended by nearly 100 people on April 16, 2025, to explore impacts to local services due to federal and state budget funding cuts.
The panel speakers included Jason Adler, CEO, Kittitas Valley Healthcare; Peggy Morache, President, FISH Community Food Bank; Heidi Behrends Cerniwey, Ellensburg City Manager; and Bryan Elliott, Kittitas County Auditor.
Kittitas County Healthcare CEO Jason Adler stated that KVH has nearly doubled its services over the past seven years but still struggles to meet demand. With an operating budget of $140 million, KVH receives about $2 million annually in federal matching funds to offset low Medicaid reimbursements. While those federal funds appear secure for now, the government has proposed scaling back the subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, which would result in increased costs to the hospital to provide care for the uninsured. In addition, hospital costs will increase due to state-level proposals such as an increase in the B&O tax and a 5% payroll tax increase on high earners, as well as caps on subsidies for state-sponsored health and dental coverage, Adler warned that these changes could reduce access to care, particularly for underserved patients, and increase pressure on hospitals like KVH already struggling to keep up with demand.
FISH Community Food Bank President Peggy Morache described how FISH supports food pantries countywide, distributing 2.5 million pounds of groceries last year. Federal funding reductions are already having an impact. A program providing 18 million pounds of supplemental food to Washington food banks was cut by 40% in January, meaning 13,500 fewer pounds for FISH. Another valued program—the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA), which funded $7,000/month in locally sourced fresh foods like milk, eggs, meat, and produce—will end in December. She warned of a “domino effect” from broader federal cuts, including Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security, predicting rising food insecurity. FISH has already seen an 80% increase in pantry visits and a 100% increase in prepared meal demand since the end of COVID stipends. Forty percent of county residents received food through the Food Bank in 2024.
City Manager Heidi Behrends Cerniwey outlined nearly $14 million in federal funding supporting local projects, from one-time grants for forestry and safety equipment to infrastructure upgrades like sidewalks and fiber optics, as well as ongoing services including transit, libraries, and DUI enforcement. However, she emphasized growing uncertainty around these funds. “I think I’ve used the word ‘uncertainty’ about 50 times a day,” she said, citing an instance where a grant was paused just one day after signing. In response, the city is acting quickly once funds are secured and including termination clauses in agreements. Cerniwey stressed that federal cuts to ongoing services hit small rural communities hardest, as they often lack alternative resources. Without federal aid, projects like road repairs and facility maintenance may become unaffordable. She noted that a recent executive order to cut the Institute of Museum and Library Services would be particularly damaging in rural areas dependent on libraries for essential services.
Bryan Elliott, Kittitas County Auditor, reported that the county’s $125 million budget includes $24 million in state and federal grants. With COVID-era funding ending and further federal and state cuts proposed, the county faces growing financial uncertainty. “It’s a question of imbalance and instability,” Elliott said. The most likely areas to be affected are public health, road construction and maintenance, and the sheriff’s office and county courts. Elliott warned that the county may need to make difficult decisions about service levels or shift more pressure onto the general fund, potentially impacting other programs. To address these challenges, the county plans to improve coordination across departments and partner with cities to set shared priorities. Elliott emphasized the importance of regional advocacy through the Council of Governments to ensure local needs are heard and addressed at the state and federal levels as funding landscapes shift. County residents are encouraged to stay abreast of developments through agency websites and to contact state and federal representatives to voice their concerns.
To view to a recording of the panel program, visit the LWV Kittitas County YouTube channel, https://tinyurl.com/3rtfztnf.
Article by Gretchen Chambers, who is retired from a varied job career (which included landscaping, health care, and more) and is now working with her husband to thin and protect their 70 acres of forest around their home near Lookout Mountain. She is a member of the Kittitas County League of Women Voters.