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Twisp Town Council approved the mayor’s budget Dec. 9 that continues ambitious growth and infrastructure planning in 2026.
The town is continuing a capital facilities plan which includes the Glover Street Revitalization Project, more residential and commercial development, transferring Wagner Pool operations to Friends of the Pool, acquiring Mill Hill as a new town park, and completing an upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant and replacing the water main.
Mayor Hans Smith says he is excited about the projects.
“As I write these budgets and work with the finance committee and the clerk/treasurer office and the department heads, I usually get pretty excited looking forward to next year, and this one is no exception,” he said. “There are a lot of ambitious projects planned for the town.”
There are no major increases in revenue projections and “improving revenues and reducing costs to sustain needed town operations will be a continuing focus in 2026,” according to the mayor’s report.
Police Chief on the Horizon
The mayor was also upbeat about hiring a police chief in 2026. In an interview with MVE, he said he is close to reviewing three applicants for the police chief position, a first step in rebuilding the police department, which has been a priority for Smith.
The town is still looking for two officers, preferably lateral transfers from other departments. Smith said the current potential applicants have only expressed an interest in the police chief position.
The town council approved to continue contracting with the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office in 2026. The contract stipulates a new monthly base rate of $8,000, which would cover ten officer responses per month as well as Twisp’s contribution for the county’s new record clerk. The town would be charged $650 per response thereafter. The town did not have a base charge in 2025 and was charged $580 per call, according to the mayor.
The contract may be terminated by either party with 30 days notice, or less if both parties agree. Smith said Sheriff Paul Budrow and Okanogan County Commissioner John Neal assured him that the contract would be amended or renegotiated once a police chief is hired. Smith said county services would still be needed when the police chief is off duty, but he expects the base rate to decline significantly with the new hire.
Funding for the Narcotics Task Force
The only fly in the ointment that arose during the meeting is funding for the Narcotics Task Force. Twisp resident Mark Edson lamented that the town could only cough up $5,870 for the task force but allocated $25,000 for the Twisp Chamber of Commerce.
Edson spoke candidly about drug use in the community and losing his own son to the drug trade. He compared Twisp’s contribution to Tonasket’s, which on Nov. 12 approved $25,000 in funding for the task force in each of the next three years.
The town was only asked to pay $5,765.14 for 2026.
Edson left the chamber during the council meeting. When it came time to approve the 2026 budget, Councilmember Tim Matsui made the point that Twisp Chamber is funded by the lodging tax, which can only be used for tourism promoting activities and cannot be used to fund the Narcotics Task Force.
Smith said he would have continued discussions with the task force about funding if they had asked for more money. In October, the task force lowered their ask from $25,000 to $5,870 for Twisp and $5,000 for Winthrop in response to pushback by some towns. Smith, who attended a meeting with the task force, said this level of funding isn’t enough to sustain it in future years.
“We were earnestly engaged in discussions with the task force about what funding level they wanted the town to commit to for next year and they asked for $5,800 from us. That is what their request to us was.” Smith told the Council.
“If the task force wanted more money from us, I believe they would be engaged in asking us for it. I would have been more than willing to continue those discussions. We’re responding to what they asked for.”
Funding for Twisp Chamber Precarious for 2027
Twisp’s Chamber of Commerce asked for and received $25,000 in funding in 2026 from the lodging tax. However, the mayor told the Chamber not to rely on this funding in 2027.
The lodging tax is operating at a deficit, according to the mayor’s report in September. Operating expenses have increased almost 68%, from $40,810 in 2021 to $68,530 in 2025. Meanwhile, lodging tax revenue has decreased from $54,461 to $42,061 during the same period. Smith said the fund would be exhausted at current expense rates.
Smith noted that he is funding the Chamber in 2025 because the town needs the Chamber’s help mitigating Glover Street closures for businesses as the street undergoes renovations, including replacing canopies and sidewalk, beginning in April 2026. The Chamber will work with businesses to help customers navigate the street closures. However, the mayor made clear, and the Chamber acknowledged, that future financial support is uncertain.
The Chamber’s 2026 contract with the Town of Twisp includes reporting requirements to the Council twice a year detailing their activities and expenditures.
Twisp Chamber puts on Mistletoe Madness, 4th of July Parade and Twispfest.
The town will solicit bids in early 2026 for a new cleaning contract to service the Twisp Library and the Merc public restrooms. These services are paid for with lodging tax funds.
Water and Sewer Rate Increases
Water and sewer rates will increase 4% and 5% respectively to account for increase in cost of operations and to maintain reserves. The increase still keeps Twisp’s rates in the middle of rates charged by other jurisdictions in the region, according to the mayor. Capital Reserves used for debt service payments limited even higher price increases.
The town council also approved the town’s fee schedule, MVCC library sublease, a new IT contract, and contracts with the town planner, building inspector and Aero Methow.
Increase in Health Benefits for Town Employees
The budget also includes 3% salary increases for town employees and, for the first time, a $500 contribution for premiums for full-time empolyees’ first dependent. Part-time employees receive a $400 contribution. The town covers 100% of health insurance premiums for full-time employees and 80% for part-time employees.
Public works employees will receive salary increases based on certification, such as wastewater certification levels 1 and 2 and water certification 1 and 2.
“We are doing a great job, I would say, in providing additional resources to staff and trying to extend health insurance coverage and make sure people make good wages for the jobs that we offer,” said Smith.
Smith and town councilmembers did not get a raise, maintaining their monthly stipend of $3,000 for the mayor and $100 for each councilmember.
Saying Goodbye, Swearing in the New
The town council will have three new members in 2026.
The mayor swore in Moly Filer, who ran unopposed for former councilmember Aaron Studen’s seat. Studen resigned in July after moving out of town limits. Tim McGuire, who was running unopposed for Wyatt Lundquist’s seat, was appointed in the interim.
McGuire will rejoin the council once he is sworn in, presumably at the next council meeting, and move one seat over to Lundquist’s seat.
Rosemary Seifried, who interviewed for Position 2 last year but was edged out by Lundquist, ran uncontested for Position 1 and will replace Katrina Auburn on the town council.
The mayor thanked Lundquist and Auburn for their service. Auburn and Lundquist, neither of whom sought another term, thanked the mayor and expressed their gratitude for serving on the Council.
Smith, Matsui, and Councilmember Will Menzies are up for re-election in 2027.
