Kittitas County Auditor

05/01/2026

The Kittitas County Auditor’s Office will begin accepting declarations of candidacy for local elected positions starting Monday, May 4th.

Key Filing Dates:
-Filing Window: May 4th – May 8th, 2026.
-Online Filing: Opens May 4th at 8:00 AM and closes May 8th at 5:00 PM.
-In-Person Filing: Visit the Auditor’s office at the County Courthouse during regular business hours (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM).

Where to File:
-Online: https://voter.votewa.gov/candidatefiling/candidatelogin.aspx
-In-Person: 205 West 5th Ave, Suite 105, Ellensburg, WA 98926.

Important Update for Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs): Voting Precinct Boundaries were recently updated perhttps://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/uploads/bocc/resolutions/2026-073-resolution.pdf Our IT department is currently working to update the public-facing maps with these new boundaries. If you are planning to run for a PCO position and have any questions regarding the updated precinct lines, we encourage you to reach out to our office.

For more information, please visit our website at: https://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/auditor/elections/participating.aspx

Questions? Contact the Elections Division at (509) 962-7503 or email [email protected].

and closes Friday, May 8, at 5 p.m. The portal will stop receiving declarations at that time. Be sure you finish filing before 5 p.m.

04/28/2026

If you live within the Kittitas School District, today is the final day to cast your ballot for the April 28th Special Election.

To ensure your vote is received and counted on time, we strongly recommend using a secure ballot drop box rather than the mail. Boxes remain open until 8:00 PM tonight at the following locations:

📍 Kittitas County Courthouse – 205 W. 5th Ave, Ellensburg
📍 Kittitas City Hall – 207 Main Street, Kittitas (Alley between Library & City Hall)

Note: If you do choose to mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by today. Please check with your local post office to ensure it receives today's postmark.

Questions? Contact the Kittitas County Auditor’s Office at (509) 962-7503 or [email protected].

04/14/2026

The Kittitas County Auditor’s Office is proud to celebrate National County Government Month! Stop by the office to view our patriotic display and learn more about how we serve the community every day. We look forward to seeing you!

04/07/2026

Ballots for the April 28th, 2026, Special Election have been mailed!

Please note that this is a district-specific election. Only registered voters living within the Kittitas School District will receive a ballot.

For this Special Election, the following secure drop boxes are open:
-Kittitas County Courthouse – 205 W. 5th Ave, Ellensburg
-Kittitas City Hall – 207 Main Street, Kittitas (Alley between Library & City Hall)

You can also return your ballot via USPS. It must be postmarked on or before Election Day, April 28th. To ensure a timely postmark, we strongly encourage you to mail your ballot as early as possible.

For questions, please contact the Kittitas County Auditor’s Office at (509) 962-7503 or [email protected].

04/02/2026

Where Your Property Tax Dollar Goes

Many people are surprised to learn that the County does not keep most of the property taxes it collects.

County government acts as the property value assessor, tax collector and cashier for all property taxes. After taxes are collected, the money is distributed to the various taxing districts such as schools, fire districts, cities, hospital districts, and others.

Each of these districts is governed by its own independently elected board, and each board sets its own levy rate — not the County.

The breakdown shown here reflects average property levies countywide.
Depending on where you live, your property taxes will look different because:

• A larger portion of your taxes will go to City services instead of the County if you are a City resident
• The County portion will be smaller
• Your Fire, Hospital, and School district rates will vary depending on location

From each property tax dollar collected:
• The largest portions go to State and Local Schools
• Fire, hospital, city, and other districts receive their voter-approved levies
• The County receives only a portion of your overall tax payment
Of the County’s portion (roughly 16.4%):

• About half goes to the County Road Fund for road maintenance, snow removal, bridges, and transportation infrastructure
• The other half funds critical public services such as:
o Law enforcement and corrections
o Courts and the justice system
o Public health services
o Land use planning and permitting
o Elections, assessor, and other county services
o Emergency management and public safety programs

In short:
The County collects property taxes, but most of the money is distributed to other local districts that are independently governed and voter-approved.

Your property tax dollar supports schools, fire protection, hospitals, cities, roads, public safety, libraries, parks, and many other essential local services.

04/01/2026

The Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners has officially proclaimed April 2026 as National County Government Month in Kittitas County! 🎉

They encourage all county officials, employees, schools, and residents to join in the celebration and take part in activities that highlight the important services counties provide to our communities.

Be sure to stop by the Courthouse in Ellensburg to check out the hundreds of coloring contest entries submitted by local students in grades K–5. This year’s theme, “My County, My Country” – Celebrating America’s 250 Years, showcases the creativity and pride of our young residents.

While you’re there, explore the many department tables set up throughout the Courthouse—each offering a look at the services and resources available to the community.

Come celebrate with us and learn more about how your county works for you! 🇺🇸

03/19/2026

Huge congratulations to Monica Hunt on reaching an incredible milestone: 20 years of service to Kittitas County!

As a Deputy Auditor and licensing extraordinaire, Monica is a huge asset to our team and our customers.

Thank you, Monica, for two decades of dedicated service. Cheers to many more!

On Tuesday, March 17th, the Board of County Commissioners recognized employees for their years of service to the citizens of Kittitas County.

We're grateful for the commitment these individuals have shown in serving our communities.

We are proud to recognize and celebrate the following service milestones:

25 Years:
Lisamarie Larrabee

20 Years:
Lindsey Buntin
Monica Hunt

15 Years:
Candi Ramsey
Aaron Avey
Gail Weyand

10 years:
Joel Ihrke
Stephanie Hartung

5 Years:
Kirk Kramer
Jessica Contratto
Devin Omans
Daniel Suggs
Savanna Myra
Peter Ross
Christine Rice

03/11/2026

Join us as Kittitas County celebrates America’s 250th anniversary! Communities across the county will be hosting events, activities, and celebrations honoring our nation’s history, heritage, and future.

From local traditions to special community gatherings, there will be many opportunities to get involved and celebrate together.

* April 18th - Kittitas County Day of Service

* June 14th - Flag Day in Kittitas County

* July 4th - Independence Day Celebrations

* August 8th - Kittitas County Museum Day

* September 17th - Civic Engagement in Kittitas County

Learn more about upcoming America 250 events in Kittitas County and how to participate at https://centralwashingtonoutdoor.com/america-250/

Let’s celebrate 250 years of America right here in Kittitas County! 🎉

02/14/2026

📢 Holiday Closure Notice

Kittitas County Government Offices will be closed Monday, February 16th in observance of Presidents Day.

Offices will reopen during regular business hours on Tuesday, February 17.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

02/13/2026

Election results have been updated: https://results.votewa.gov/results/public/kittitas-county-wa/elections/20260210

The Canvassing Board will meet next week on February 19th and 20th to review and certify the results of the February Special Election.