Local Politics | The JOLT News Organization, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

The City of Olympia's current sales tax distribution. Sales and use tax revenues are shared by the state, Olympia, Thurston County and other local jurisdictions.

Olympia weighs 0.1% sales tax increase to support public safety

The Olympia City Council is weighing whether to adopt a new local sales tax to support public safety, a move that could also unlock millions in ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/20/25 | 13 comments

General Accounting Manager Kensey Wang briefed the City of Olympia Finance Committee on results from the city’s 2024 financial audit at a meeting on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025.

Olympia receives clean audit, minor reporting issues noted

State auditors gave the City of Olympia 2024 financial statements a clean audit, issuing an unmodified opinion with only two issues ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/19/25 | 1 comment

The Olympia City Council approved updates to the Inspire Olympia funding strategy at a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.

Olympia City Council OKs Inspire Olympia grant funding adjustments

The Olympia City Council unanimously approved adjustments to the Inspire Olympia grant funding strategy in order to increase support for ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/18/25

YWCA of Olympia co-Executive Director Alli Ewing, joined city officials for a photo after the Olympia City Council proclaimed Aug. 26, 2025, as Women's Equality Day.

YWCA appeals to community for support at Olympia City Council meeting

The YWCA of Olympia, an organization that has supported marginalized women and families since 1945, is facing a financial crisis that threatens ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/14/25 | 5 comments

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution of intention to establish the Long Lake Management District No. 25 at a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025.

Long Lake Management District set to return in Thurston County amid milfoil threat

Thurston County has taken the first step toward the implementation of a new Long Lake Management District after local residents warned ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 8/11/25 | 2 comments

Northwest Cooperative Development Center Co-Director John A. McNamara accepted the Olympia City Council's proclamation declaring 2025 the Year of Cooperatives at a meeting on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. He cited local successes, such as Blue Heron Bakery's transition to worker ownership and the city's high number of co-ops and credit units serving more than 52,000 people.

Olympia declares 2025 the Year of Cooperatives

The Olympia City Council unanimously proclaimed 2025 as the Year of Cooperatives, recognizing the vital role cooperatives play in fostering a resilient ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/6/25

Committees chosen to write arguments for Workers' Bill of Right ballot proposition

The Olympia City Council has approved a resolution appointing two citizen committees to write the official arguments — "For" and "Against" — a ballot ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 8/5/25 | 4 comments

A downtown Olympia property near Plum Street and 8th Avenue SE will house Thurston County Public Services and Regional Justice Center. The $34.9 million deal with Vine Street Associates LLC, which was approved by the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, includes four buildings and a parking facility.

Thurston County ends years of courthouse delays with $34.9M property deal

More than five years after shelving a $250 million courthouse project and months after paring down Lakeridge Drive campus renovation plans ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 8/1/25 | 10 comments

Thurston County Board of County Commissioners approved a five-year lease to relocate the Syringe Services Program from downtown Olympia to Franklin Street at a meeting on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

Thurston County commissioners back new location for Syringe Services Program

The Thurston County Syringe Services Program is on the move. A five-year lease approved by the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners will lead to ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/31/25 | 13 comments

The Olympia City Council discussed preserving manufactured home communities during a study session held on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

Olympia City Council seeks creative solution to protect manufactured home communities

The Olympia City Council is exploring ways to preserve manufactured home communities by addressing land use concerns not covered by the ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/31/25 | 2 comments

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners, together with county officials, celebrated the county’s 19 National Association of Counties achievement awards, the most in Washington, and the state’s only Best of Category award for  the “Fix-It Fair” program at a meeting on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

Thurston County earns 19 NACo awards, dominates in Washington

Thurston County won 19 achievement awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) this year, the most of any county in the state of ... more

By Kameko Marque | 7/30/25 | 4 comments

The Straddleline Park, formerly known as Grays Harbor Off-Road Vehicle Park, is set for a major transformation into an eco-adventure destination under an interlocal development strategy from Thurston and Grays Harbor counties.

Thurston and Grays Harbor counties unveil plan to revive Straddleline Park

Thurston and Grays Harbor counties have voted to join forces on transforming Straddleline Park into what county officials referred to as “a fairly blank canvas” aimed at ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/30/25

City of Tumwater to establish communications department

The City of Tumwater is planning to establish a communications department. The Tumwater Budget and Finance Committee endorsed an ordinance ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/30/25 | 5 comments

Olympia City Council to review state rent control laws, local tenant protections

The Olympia City Council will review House Bill 1217 at a study session on Tuesday evening, July 29, at which time the group is expected to discuss how to align the ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/29/25 | 2 comments

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners deliberated over plans to integrate City of Olympia and City of Tenino court services into Thurston County District Court under new interlocal agreements during the board’s agenda setting meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

Olympia, Tenino court services transitioning to Thurston County

Thurston County is in the process of taking over court services for the City of Olympia and City of Tenino. The Thurston County Board of ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/25/25 | 1 comment

Thurston County opens public comment on 2026-31 Capital Improvement Program

Thurston County’s draft 2026–31 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), a six-year investment projects plan mandated under the state of ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/24/25

Dr. Wendy Frazier, a consultant who specializes in organizational development, delivered a report to the Tumwater City Council on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. The report delves into how the council members feel about their roles, the core process of their jobs as council members, communication patterns and their interpersonal dynamics.

Consultant delves into interpersonal dynamics of Tumwater City Council

A consultant’s report to the Tumwater City Council delved into the interpersonal dynamics and communication patterns of council members and city ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/24/25 | 2 comments

Capital Medical Center President Will Callicoat asked the city council for a more comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of the Workers' Bill of Rights initiative, at a meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

Olympia City Council sends Workers' Bill of Rights initiative to November ballot

The Workers' Bill of Rights initiative is heading to the ballot box in a upcoming showdown that will pit the union-backed proposal against employers in the ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 7/23/25 | 7 comments

Lacey Human Services Coordinator Michelle Chavez briefed the Lacey City Council about the 2025 Human Services Grant Program Award at a meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. The plan gives $30,000 to applicants scoring above 95 points and $23,125 to applicants with scores between 90 and 95.

Lacey's Human Services Grant Program targets 12 nonprofits

The City of Lacey’s Human Services Commission (HSC) endorsed a formula-driven plan under the 2025 Human Services Grant Program that channels $300,000 ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/23/25

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners postponed votes on two Encampment Resolution Program contracts after the Washington State Department of Commerce removed Unity Commons and Quince Street Village from its final budget allocation. The vote to table the contracts occurred during the board’s agenda setting meeting on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

Thurston County delays encampment aid vote after state defunds two Olympia projects

Two Olympia shelter projects were axed from a multimillion-dollar homelessness grant by the Washington State Department of Commerce ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 7/21/25 | 4 comments