The Washington state Legislature has earmarked $500,000 in funding for Thurston County’s Regional Justice Center project, marking a key win in the Board of County Commissioners’ commitment to bring state and federal funding to the community.
The board entered into a purchase and sale agreement in July 2025 for multiple buildings on a seven-acre site in downtown Olympia for a regional center for justice and public services. The acquisition of the property near Plum Street and Eighth Avenue Southeast followed the board’s January 2025 decision to scale renovation plans for the aging courthouse campus at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SE in Olympia as an interim, fiscally responsible approach to the security and service challenges experienced by the courts.
This award is the latest in a series of grants the county has received, including $1.25 million for a new agriculture center at the Thurston County Fairgrounds.
“We’re pursuing every state and federal dollar available to support our community,” Thurston County Commissioner Carolina Mejia, who also serves as co-chair of the Washington State Association of Counties Legislative Steering Committee, said in a news release. “By sharing Thurston County’s story across the state, we’re building a strong network of partnerships — from labor and the attorney general’s office to the State Bar Association and our legislative delegation. This work doesn’t happen in silos, and those relationships are delivering real results for our infrastructure, public safety and economic future.”
The county’s new “partnership-first” strategy is a direct response to a challenging fiscal reality: while costs for services are rising and the community is growing, the county’s primary funding sources are not keeping pace.
While the county is responsible for collecting property tax, only about 8% stays with the county to support programs and services through the general fund. The rest goes to the state and local cities, school, fire and library districts.
“Counties are in a unique position. Our state and federal government require us to implement certain regulations locally, so we’re responsible for providing services that do not necessarily come with the funding needed to support them,” Thurston County Manager Leonard Hernandez said in a news release. “By focusing on external partnerships and internal efficiencies, we are continuing to deliver high-quality, high-impact results. I’m so proud of our board’s commitment to advocating for our community, and our staff’s ongoing dedication to serving the community they love and call home. When the doors stay open and the service level remains high, know that your county’s staff found ways to make it happen.”
County officials say by utilizing special one-time grant awards from funding partners for projects like the Regional Justice Center and the agriculture center at the Fairgrounds, the board is preserving the limited general fund for daily operations.
