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10/04/23 10 AM: County Departments Pitch 2024-2025 Budget Requests

County Departments Pitch 2024-2025 Budget Requests

Commissioners reviewed budget proposals from Sheriff's Office (deputies, gear, navigator), Prosecuting Attorney (software, paralegal), Superior Court (commissioners), District Court, Clerk, Auditor, and Central Services (FTEs, capital projects). Focus on personnel, public safety, IT, facilities amid revenue changes. No votes; next steps include revisions and workshops.

Sheriff's Office Budget Requests

Metadata

  • Time Range: PART 1 00:01:30–00:38:53 (approx. 37 mins)
  • Categories: budgeting, personnel, public safety, contracts

Summary

Sheriff Joe Noe presented the Sheriff's Office budget requests for 2024-2025, focusing on general fund additions funded partly by increased Hoh Tribe contract revenue from $200,000 to $275,000 annually. Requests included continuing an overhire deputy (to replace a retiring deputy), a dedicated South County deputy (eased in for 2025), a search and rescue vehicle, $25,000 for mental health navigator services shared with Discovery Behavioral Health, crisis response team protective gear upgrade (13-year-old expired equipment), and interview room recording equipment replacement (20 years old, unreliable). Discussion clarified overhires use vacancy savings, no additional Hoh deputy needed (existing 2 deputies cover), and South County deputy would patrol full shifts without extra space costs initially.

Key Discussion Points

  • Sheriff Noe: Corrections down 6 officers for 2+ years despite incentives; jail medical costs rising, hard to find providers for small jail; jail population decreased post-COVID.
  • Mark McCauley (Finance): Requests viewed in full general fund context amid JeffCom increases ($100k/year), insurance hikes, staff pay raises; Hoh revenue is general fund, not earmarked.
  • Commissioners: South County deputy supports response times; Title 3 funds possibly eligible for search/rescue vehicle; jail trends may warrant study amid state interest in modern facilities.
  • Limited discussion on some items; addressed primarily through request forms (Form A).

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Budget book Section 14 (Sheriff's Office): 2023 FTE 52.9, 2024 53.9, 2025 54.9; staffing notes deputy for South County; Hoh contract revenue $275k/year. Request forms detailed additions like deputy ($150k+), vehicle rental ($20k), gear ($50k), navigator ($25k), interview rooms ($15k).

Financials

  • Hoh Tribe contract: $275,000/year (up from $200,000).
  • South County/overhire deputy: ~$150,000+ salary/vehicle/equipment.
  • Mental health navigator: $25,000 (Sheriff share; Discovery covers rest).
  • Crisis gear upgrade: $50,000.
  • Search/rescue vehicle: Eligible for partial Title 3 offset.
  • Interview rooms: $15,000. No financial info on jail medical beyond "included in budget, rising."

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Remove "additional deputy for Hoh contract," redirect to South County/overhire using vacancy savings.
  • Split search/rescue vehicle between Title 3/general fund. No alternatives discussed for other items.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No formal action; requests noted for recommended budget analysis.
  • Vote: None taken.
  • Next Steps:
  • Revise request forms (e.g., replace Hoh deputy with South County).
  • Judy/Mark review Title 3 eligibility for vehicle by unspecified date.
  • Consider full general fund context in recommended budget (Finance, due later process).

Prosecuting Attorney's Budget Requests

Metadata

  • Time Range: PART 1 00:41:03–00:56:30 (approx. 15 mins)
  • Categories: budgeting, personnel, contracts

Summary

Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy requested $10,000 annual maintenance for new case management software (approved prior) to manage discovery (e.g., body cam video growth) and integrate with law enforcement systems, used in 21 WA counties. Additional full-time paralegal for civil division (2 attorneys, 1 shared paralegal overloaded with public records, appeals, ITAs); avoids higher attorney cost. Civil work busy with litigation, land use appeals; ITAs disruptive short-timeline requests.

Key Discussion Points

  • Kennedy: Software aids discovery tracking (recent trial dismissal issue); cloud storage eases county IT burden; paralegal creates capacity without attorney add.
  • Bill (Deputy?): Civil paralegal also deputy coroner/legal assistant; no capacity for more.
  • Commissioners: Supports preserving civil/criminal capacity; enforcement revenue to county (80% funds transport enforcement officer).

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Budget materials detailed $10k maintenance, paralegal add for 2024-2025 base.

Financials

  • Case management annual fee: $10,000.
  • Additional paralegal: Base budget add (2024-2025); no specific figure stated.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Considered contracting ITAs to other counties (none interested). No other alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No formal action; requests appreciated.
  • Vote: None taken.
  • Next Steps: None specified.

Superior Court Budget Requests

Metadata

  • Time Range: PART 1 00:56:34–01:22:36 (approx. 26 mins)
  • Categories: budgeting, personnel, services

Summary

Superior Court Judge Brandon Mac requested ~$136k for commissioners (up from prior $16-20k request, actual ~$30-40k used), as clerk-hire (hourly, sick leave only, no benefits) vs. vendors; aligns with AOC 2019 assessment (1.5-1.75 judicial officers needed). Supports mediation/settlement (Vicki Forbes), dependency/family (Lorraine Rimsen, potential tribal grant); enables judge community organizing on mental health/substance (e.g., Western State delays, outpatient alternatives). Law library cuts (go digital) to offset.

Key Discussion Points

  • Mac: Commissioners on-call limits competence; revision appeals provide oversight; state mandates more representation (unfunded).
  • Judy: Historical hours support ~69 hrs/month clerk-hire.
  • State trends: Competency delays (7-14 days goal), therapeutic focus.
  • Revenues small: Revised allocation, trial court improvement, civil arbitration.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Budget spreadsheets; AOC 2019 caseload study (1.5-1.75 officers).

Financials

  • Commissioners: ~$136k (2024-2025); prior request $16-20k, actual $30-40k. No other figures discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Vendor pay prior ($75/hr attorneys); now $100-125/hr realistic. No formal alternatives.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: None specified.

District Court Budget Overview

Metadata

  • Time Range: PART 1 01:22:46–01:37:03 (approx. 14 mins)
  • Categories: budgeting, personnel, public safety

Summary

District Court Administrator Brian Gleeson reported status quo budget amid staffing shortages (full by week-end), lower filings post-COVID (reactionary caseload). Revenues down from indigent waivers (125% poverty threshold, ~$1,400/month single), no fines on some charges, Blake refunds processed. Shift to therapeutic courts (0.5 FTE 2025); more indigents qualify.

Key Discussion Points

  • Gleeson: Historic low state troopers; BLAKE refunds small ($2-2k); 10-yr fine collection limit.
  • Therapeutic model vs. punitive; probation to "client services."

Public Comments

No public comment.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Budget narrative noted BLAKE, indigents.

Financials

No specific adds beyond COLA; revenues down.

Alternatives & Amendments

None discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: None.

County Clerk Budget Requests

Metadata

  • Time Range: PART 1 01:22:50–01:36:47 (approx. 14 mins)
  • Categories: budgeting, operations

Summary

Clerk Amanda Hamilton requested $700 increase for WACC dues ($1,250 total, proportionate); shift facilitator salary/benefits to general fund (depleted special fund used for pro se packets, training, software). Going fileless Jan 1 2024 (savings on paper); IT needs for Odyssey/Laserfish upgrades, 4TB backlog.

Key Discussion Points

  • Hamilton: 5-yr WACC contract for trainings; facilitator fund from $20 fees/surcharges.
  • Digital shift: Still print e-filings now.

Public Comments

No public comment.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Budget narrative on facilitator fund.

Financials

  • WACC dues: +$700 to $1,250. No facilitator figure.

Alternatives & Amendments

None.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Fileless Jan 1 2024.

Auditor's Office Budget Overview

Metadata

  • Time Range: PART 1 01:37:26–02:03:34 (approx. 26 mins)
  • Categories: budgeting, operations, personnel

Summary

Auditor Brenda Huntingford reported no adds for Auditor (1.5 FTE); licensing (3 staff, 2 new, 1-yr training); elections busy 2024 (5+ county-wide); microfilm digitization ($4TB); election security grant. Revenues up from licensing fees (shared statewide).

Key Discussion Points

  • Training/certification mandates; multiple elections overlap.
  • Recording fees to highest nationally ($303.50 first page 2024).

Public Comments

No public comment.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Budgets for licensing, recording, elections, audit.

Financials

No adds; elections net +$56k (billed to jurisdictions).

Alternatives & Amendments

None.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Hire 1 election position pre-Nov; Secretary review 2024.

Central Services Budget Overview

Metadata

  • Time Range: PART 1 02:04:08–02:32:32 (approx. 28 mins); PART 2 various
  • Categories: budgeting, infrastructure, operations

Summary

Central Services (Fleet/Facilities/IT/C&R) presented budgets funded by allocations/rentals/REET. FTE 26.87; adds for FTEs. Capital heavy: Fleet vehicles ($1.7M 2024), IT servers/laptops ($1.1M biennium), C&R roofs/elevators/jail ($5.4M biennium, e.g., PT CC gym $2M 2025).

Key Discussion Points

  • REET changes pending; IT storage crisis (migrate to cloud); fleet crisis (staff losses).
  • Workshop on storage/IT needs.

Public Comments

No public comment.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Packet spreadsheets detailed budgets/projects.

Financials

See packet summary (e.g., C&R 2024 $1.98M capital, 2025 $3.43M).

Alternatives & Amendments

Discuss EV chargers; contractor for IT move.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action; workshop REET/IT.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: REET work session (2 weeks); IT storage workshop.

Background Materials

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