Washington State Association of Counties - WSAC

08/28/2026

We're celebrating the addition of WSAC's newest Gold Partner,
Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance! Tremco Roofing offers the industry's most comprehensive roofing and weatherproofing solutions for restoration, repair, maintenance, replacement, and new construction, with an unbeatable maintenance program to ensure systems remain leak-proof for as long as the building stands.

Learn more about Tremco's services on their website https://www.tremcoroofing.com/ and check out all of our great partners on WSAC's Solutions Center: https://wsac.org/solutions-center/

08/26/2026

WSAC is still accepting applications for the 2026 County Impact Awards. This is your chance to help us recognize outstanding county government projects and the leadership and staff who engage in positive action to improve their local communities.

County Impact Award recipients will be honored at the County Leaders Conference during Thursday's Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Comcast.

View eligibility requirements and submit your nominations by September 1st! https://wsac.org/county-impact-awards/

You can also see last year’s incredible Project of Impact Award winners:

🏆 Chelan–Douglas Counties: Coordinated Entry System: New design cut wait times and connected families to housing.

🏆 Jefferson County: Port Hadlock Sewer Project: After 25 years, Jefferson County built a modern sewer system.

🏆 Kittitas County: Jail Medical & Behavioral Care: People in jail with addiction or mental health issues get help fast.

🏆 Skagit County: North Star Initiative: Countywide effort unites local leaders, responders, housing, and health groups.

🏆 Thurston County: Your Neighbors, Your Elections: Stories of local election workers build trust.

🏆 Walla Walla County: Road Edge Repair & Widening Program: New equipment and a quality mindset enable crews to fix and improve roads in a single trip.

Read more about the 2025 winning county government projects:
https://members.wsac.org/news/media/84/84-Innovation-in-Action-Counties-Awarded-for-Lasting-Local-Impact

08/25/2026

Mark your calendars for a virtual Lunch & Learn with WSAC's Platinum Partner, Maximus, on Tuesday, October 13th. This session will explore practical approaches to improving customer service, streamlining operations, and creating a more connected experience for your residents.

Through real-world examples and discussion, we'll examine strategies that help counties meet today's challenges while preparing for tomorrow's needs.

Learn more and register here:
https://members.wsac.org/events/view/2026-maximus-lunch-learn

08/24/2026

Washington Paid Out $614M in Settlements in a Year. That Can't Go On:

Washington’s growing lawsuit payouts are draining money from the state budget and crowding out public services. The state’s liability system encourages large settlements and needs reform. Lawmakers need to update tort laws, reduce excessive claims, and protect funding for core programs.

Read more:

Lawmakers must quell surging state tort payouts while preserving the ability of Washingtonians to seek redress for government wrongdoing.

08/21/2026

Exhibitor space is now sold out for WSAC’s County Leaders Conference. If you missed out on reserving your table at our largest event of the year, you can still join the exhibitor waitlist.

You can also guarantee your company is represented at the conference by reserving a sponsorship! We still have great options available that will provide significant networking opportunities and brand exposure among elected county commissioners, council members, and executives, as well as affiliate groups such as the county administrators, planning directors, engineers, solid waste managers, human services professionals, and more.

➡ Register here to join our exhibitor waitlist and reserve your preferred sponsorship: https://wsac.regfox.com/wsacs-county-leaders-conference-2026-sponsor-exhibitor-registration

08/20/2026

There's still time to secure your early bird discount and take advantage of WSAC's room block rates for our County Leaders Conference! Early-bird registration is available until August 31st, and first-time attendees will also enjoy a special rate.

Don't miss out on joining 300 elected/appointed officials and department heads from all 39 counties in Washington for networking, resource sharing, engaging sessions, keynote speakers, and exploring Pierce County!

Register today to secure your early-bird discount and reserve your preferred hotel room.

➡️ Learn more & register here: https://countyleaders.org/

08/19/2026

Please join us in celebrating the addition of WSAC's newest high-tier Platinum Partner, Autessa! Built locally in Redmond, Washington, Autessa's Builder Platform harnesses the power of AI to offer customized solutions to county needs.

Counties of all sizes can use the platform for permitting and licensing, forms and applications, compliance and rules libraries, and secure AI review of large, sensitive document sets, while benefiting from no upfront cost, unlimited users, and no per-seat charge.

Learn more about Autessa on WSAC's Solutions Center: https://wsac.org/solutions-center/directory/autessa/

08/18/2026

A new episode of the County Connection Podcast is available!

From Dragons to Ballots: A Conversation with WA Secretary of State Steve Hobbs

What do election security, international trade missions, public libraries, and Dungeons & Dragons have in common? They all fall under the watch of Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. In this wide-ranging conversation, Hobbs joins Paul Jewell to discuss election integrity, cybersecurity threats, voter confidence, and the evolving role of the Secretary of State’s Office. Along the way, he shares stories from his military service, his passion for tabletop gaming, and how both have shaped his approach to public service.

Listen Now:

What do election security, international trade missions, public libraries, and Dungeons & Dragons have in common? They all fall under the watch of Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. In this wide-ranging conversation, Hobbs joins Paul Jewell to discuss election integrity, cybersecurity th...

08/10/2026

We are down to just TWO exhibit tables left at WSAC's County Leaders Conference! Don’t miss your chance to meet directly with elected county commissioners, councilmembers, and executives from across the state in one convenient location.

Members of affiliate groups, such as county administrators, planning directors, engineers, solid waste managers, human services professionals, and many others, are also invited, providing unmatched networking opportunities.

Great sponsorship opportunities are also still available, like the Opening Luncheon! Our premier sponsorship provides 15 minutes of speaking time to address all attendees, 3 complimentary registrations, a 50% exhibitor discount (while spaces last), and more.

➡️ Reserve one of the last spots at the conference and secure our premier sponsorship opportunity before they’re gone: https://wsac.regfox.com/wsacs-county-leaders-conference-2026-sponsor-exhibitor-registration

08/07/2026

Governor Ferguson Declares Statewide Wildfire Emergency, Issues Statewide Burn Ban:

Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide state of emergency due to our drought conditions, unusually high temperatures, and high winds, all of which are exacerbating our record-setting wildfires. The declaration includes a statewide prohibition on most outdoor and agricultural burning through September 30, 2026.

Read more:

Governor Ferguson declares statewide wildfire emergency, issues statewide burn ban Office of the Governor / Office of Financial Management sent this bulletin at 08/01/2026 10:14 AM PDT AUGUST 1, 2026 View as a webpage / Share FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brionna Aho, Governor's Communications Dire...