Understanding the Washoe County Budget & Washoe Checkbook

What Was It All About
On July 22, Washoe County hosted a free public workshop to help residents better understand how the County budget is built — and where your tax dollars actually go. The event featured a beginner-friendly presentation from County leaders and a live demo of the Washoe Checkbook, our new online tool that lets you explore county revenues and expenditures in near real-time.

Who Presented

• Clara Andriola, County Commissioner, District 4
• Abbe Yacoben, Chief Financial Officer
• Cathy Hill, County Comptroller
• Lori Cooke, Budget Manager

What was Covered

• “Budget 101” presentation explaining how the county budget works
• Demonstration of Washoe Checkbook
• Moderated Q&A session with questions submitted in advance and during the event

Why It Matters
The county budget reflects the priorities of our community — and it’s funded by you! This event was part of our ongoing effort to increase transparency, expand access to financial data, and foster meaningful engagement around how public dollars are spent.

Now that the Washoe Checkbook is live, you can explore spending across all departments — anytime. It’s more than just a financial dashboard. It’s a tool to help you stay informed, ask questions, and get involved in your local government.

Check out the Washoe County Checkbook Dashboard [here]
Check out the Special Budget Workshop [here]
Help us to improve future Budget 101 Workshops by taking this survey [here]

• Still have questions?
  Contact Washoe311 by dialing 3-1-1 or (775) 328-2003. You may also email Washoe311 via washoe311@washoecounty.gov or submit your request online via the portal [here]