FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Clallam County Revenue Advisory Committee Issues Letter Urging Legislative Oversight of County Forest Trust Lands
PORT ANGELES, WA — March 2, 2026 — The Clallam County Revenue Advisory Committee (RAC) today released a formal letter to Governor Bob Ferguson and legislative leaders calling for renewed oversight of County Forest Board Transfer Lands and reaffirmation of trustee duties to beneficiary counties and junior taxing districts.
The RAC’s letter recounts that Clallam County began deeding approximately 94,500 acres of tax-foreclosed timberlands to the State in 1936 to be managed in trust for county beneficiaries. The letter notes that similarly situated county transfer trust lands total about 600,000 acres across twenty-one counties statewide.
The letter raises concerns about recent administrative actions that the RAC says have reduced trust revenue available for local services. Among the examples cited, the RAC states that DNR withheld eight timber sales with an appraised value of $7.9 million and a likely sale value of up to $12 million, revenue that would have supported trust land management and distributions to local taxing districts such as schools, fire districts, and hospital districts.
The RAC asks legislative leaders to review trust administration and consider steps including requesting historical and projected revenue information from DNR, monitoring fiduciary performance by state appointees, and convening a legislative committee meeting with local taxing district officials.
The letter was released in connection with the RAC’s March 2, 2026, special meeting agenda item titled “Consideration of Five Corner Letter Regarding Clallam County Trust Lands.”
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Media Contact:
Connie Beauvais, Chair
Clallam County Revenue Advisory Committee
360-797-4261