What does a YES vote on Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 20 mean?

Clark County would follow a new, earlier timeline for submitting budget information and presenting and adopting the county budget than the dates in state law.

What does a NO vote on Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 20 mean?

Clark County's budget would keep following the dates set in state law.

Will this cost more money?

The County's fiscal analysis says it would have minimal financial impact and that currently budgeted resources should be sufficient, since staff processes mostly align with the new deadlines.

Does it change how much the County spends or taxes?

No. It changes the timeline and public posting of budget information, not tax rates or spending levels.

When would the budget be adopted?

By November 30, at a public hearing where the Council would also adopt the appropriation, tax and revenue ordinances for the next budget cycle.

How many votes does Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 20 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 20?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 20 — Concerning a Revised Budget Transparency Process

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 3:57 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026

What it does: Concerning a Revised Budget Transparency Process The Clark County Charter Review Commission adopted Resolution No. 26-10 proposing an amendment to the Clark County Home Rule Charter, concerning a revised budget transparency process. If approved, this amendment would establish a new timeline for the submission of budget information, presentation, and adoption of the Clark County budget earlier than those dates set in Chapter 36.40 RCW. Should this amendment be:
A YES vote means: Clark County would follow a new, earlier timeline for submitting budget information and presenting and adopting the county budget than the dates in state law.
A NO vote means: Clark County's budget would keep following the dates set in state law.
Needed to pass: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean: Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Today

Clark County prepares its budget under the state's county budget law (Chapter 36.40 RCW) and the timelines set by its Budget Office; the Home Rule Charter does not set its own budget deadlines.
The County keeps 70 funds, with a $741 million revenue budget and an $886 million expense budget for 2026.
According to the amendment's supporters, in 2025 the first public presentation of the budget was October 29 and the budget was adopted December 2.

If it passes

The County Manager would ask county offices for budget estimates by June 30 and get them by July 31, then send the Council a proposed preliminary budget by August 31.
The County Manager would present the preliminary budget at a public meeting by September 8; the Council would hold a public meeting on its revised preliminary budget, where anyone may speak, by October 31, and adopt the budget at a public hearing by November 30.
Budget preparation instructions and the preliminary budget would be posted on a public-facing website.
If approved, the Charter change takes effect immediately upon adoption.

Who would notice

County departments and the County Manager, who would work on an earlier schedule, the County Council, and residents who want to comment on the budget. The County's fiscal analysis found minimal financial impact.

How it got here

It was proposed by the elected 15-member Charter Review Commission (Resolution 26-10, sponsored by Commissioner Peter Silliman); see Background.

Written by SpectrumVote from 2 linked sources (1, 2). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Background

Clark County voters elected 15 commissioners in November 2025 to the Charter Review Commission, which proposed this amendment as its item 26-10 (sponsored by Commissioner Peter Silliman, according to the amendment intake form).

According to Resolution No. 26-10, the amendment would require the County Manager to request budget estimates from county offices by June 30, receive them by July 31, transmit a proposed preliminary budget to the County Council by August 31 and present it publicly by September 8, with the Council holding a public meeting on its revised preliminary budget by October 31 and adopting a budget by November 30.

The resolution also requires budget instructions and the preliminary budget to be posted on a public-facing website.

The fiscal analysis prepared for the commission states the amendment 'would have minimal financial impact' and that current budgeted resources are anticipated to be sufficient.

Put on the ballot by Clark County Charter Review Commission, July 8, 2026 (Resolution No. 26-10).

From official source 1, official source 2, official source 3, official source 4, official source 5.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 20 mean?: Clark County would follow a new, earlier timeline for submitting budget information and presenting and adopting the county budget than the dates in state law.
What does a NO vote on Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 20 mean?: Clark County's budget would keep following the dates set in state law.
Will this cost more money?: The County's fiscal analysis says it would have minimal financial impact and that currently budgeted resources should be sufficient, since staff processes mostly align with the new deadlines.
Does it change how much the County spends or taxes?: No. It changes the timeline and public posting of budget information, not tax rates or spending levels.
When would the budget be adopted?: By November 30, at a public hearing where the Council would also adopt the appropriation, tax and revenue ordinances for the next budget cycle.
How many votes does Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 20 need to pass?: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 20?: SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?: The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Clark County ballot.

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