[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6173360,"mediaKeyId","5382470-562c61295537c5bcd12253eede252885","parentId",5382470,"title","Commissioners weigh revenue, cuts and park funding after budget retreat","audioSeconds",1263,"startMs",914000,"endMs",2177000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5382470-562c61295537c5bcd12253eede252885&start=914&end=2177","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5382470-562c61295537c5bcd12253eede252885/thumbnail_914000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6173360/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Commissioners-weigh-revenue-cuts-and-park-funding-after-budget-retreat","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173360-fb46007c87afc75426270bcae993e3db/orig.mp4?Expires=1770582338&Signature=h0ACXgt5C7ARbh3xShnwGm-gk-14vTriKZyW2IPiERWve9AlHzcHpRF2EE38yl~vX91NgQU4mSoMwcqM8Nt61WRtKMvvcyd05XYMfN9Oui5l~usRp6wiZzmcfXKzWexUGyz7I6hENIjN9xxyi2X7F6v9ZXZzbVwVCKOwc1RgXxl68plMTlpCRje6yqgx3-NiKzPL5TIilsneT72-oxFHUxcTOM8TfAqUPfd9DuVclI4mLkW7piPzmbL5vUyFhpkCo-2sL85elxYrRZN45MkEUhnE2ds9nNNRT-dpIvLGaDoXREV-o9PMT93ODmNDiP4AI5vtrHT-od9H~lbQLqeoLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-07-14T18:04:40Z","article","County finance staff on Monday summarized ideas generated at a June 23 budget retreat designed to reduce general-fund expenditures and identify new revenue sources, and commissioners asked staff to research feasibility before committing reserves.

Kathy Funk Baxter, the county finance director, told the Board of County Commissioners that retreat participants produced roughly five pages of suggestions but that none of the items had been researched for feasibility. “None of the items were researched, as far as feasibility,” Baxter said, adding that some proposals could affect collective-bargaining agreements and would require further study.

The retreat identified a set of options including asking departments to negotiate vendor prompt-payment discounts, reviewing facilities billings, updating district court billing rates and shifting certain costs to dedicated revenue sources. Baxter said one example discussed was vendor prompt-payment discounts: “I think it was a 2% discount, net 10,” she said, and that department finance staff would have to contact vendors to determine whether contracts allow such discounts.

Commissioners emphasized caution before spending reserves. A commissioner who identified ongoing concern about state policy called recent state actions the root cause of county budget pressure and said the county should avoid raising taxes locally to offset state-level changes. The speaker said, in part, that “we're in this position because we have had leadership in Olympia ... They replaced economic principles with political agenda.” (Speaker in transcript not identified by name; quoted as spoken during the meeting.)

Baxter described a revenue source that has supported local infrastructure: the county's rural sales-tax rebate, which she said brings in about $2,000,000 a year and that the county has used to support water, sewer, parks and rail projects. Baxter said the state Office of Financial Management's population projections now classify the county as no longer rural and that qualification for the rebate can continue “for up to 25 years,” but she asked staff to obtain written confirmation from the state on whether the rebate will continue into the next fiscal year.

Commissioners discussed a specific park request: the commissioners and staff said they previously provided a $50,000 one-time contribution to the Rotary/Scott Hill Park project in Woodland and considered using rural rebate funds to finish park infrastructure so phase one could open. Baxter said she would seek an authoritative state answer on the rural rebate before recommending that the board commit additional reserves.

Baxter also outlined the county’s schedule for the coming budget cycle: the first Tuesday in September will include presentation of the estimated revenue and expense budget and workshops with departments later that month and in October. She said she would review the retreat suggestions for “low-hanging fruit” and make research recommendations to the commissioners.

Discussion points recorded during the meeting included:
- Vendor prompt-payment discounts to secure small percentage savings on large contracts.
- Facilities billing review and district court billing rate adjustments as potential revenue sources.
- Transfers from the mental-health tax receipts to replace some general-fund expenditures.
- Potential use of rural sales-tax rebate funds to finish the Scott Hill Park project in Woodland, balanced against the need to preserve a buffer for unforeseen needs.

No formal motions or votes were recorded on these items during the meeting; staff were directed to research feasibility and return findings to the board.

The board scheduled department-specific budget workshops in September and October and asked finance staff to prepare copies of retreat materials for distribution at the next meeting so commissioners and department heads could identify items for further investigation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Monday Business Meeting - 07.14.2025","oneSentenceSummary","County finance staff on Monday summarized ideas generated at a June 23 budget retreat designed to reduce general-fund expenditures and identify new revenue sources, and commissioners asked staff to research feasibility before committing reserves.","taxTitle","Cowlitz County, Washington","taxId",5122,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6173345,"HR brings personnel step and interim promotions; short executive session held with no decision",165,2539000,2704000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5382470-562c61295537c5bcd12253eede252885&start=2539&end=2704","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5382470-562c61295537c5bcd12253eede252885/thumbnail_2539000.jpg","/articles/6173345/Cowlitz-County/Washington/HR-brings-personnel-step-and-interim-promotions-short-executive-session-held-with-no-decision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173345-6759ea9f7da6a879448d22ee3d11a3ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770582338&Signature=kyaMxYnY6ZMcNQ~vWeOKgETDjogGy~dgbiszX-boxbFCYxOJJ60U6chKLIIHy6wz4MHpLP-x6YNYuhkVCWe7uh3G-X-4uFiNTK43FosqdHXDh2XUklVhfrvtlfAILzYESOwKmv0Wcl-jZ~tpPNNsRmLuY~7r1T7cB10htw616y1eEJKcfLvy60rQssCw5V1HxBIrgQnSDtbCr1tMxw4QIqCQkl0ENJ6yxFz04IqV~afJyds8iD8sn2SQx5oEytX1J6MUpmUqwqawumyVjWqlPi85G2ZX1eg0-HoDwxi5NiXmaE1TBWi6ibLbXXBHTovYzPl5T4haxOvk3vM4Jm47cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Human resources presented several personnel actions for commissioners’ consideration and held a brief executive session on a personnel matter that produced no decision.

Jessica Warren, human resources, said Public Works requested starting a utilities foreman at step 3 with the step date of Oct. 1, 2025. Warren also said Public Works requested starting an interim assistant county engineer candidate at step 9 (discussed in the meeting as $11,652 per month), with two weeks’ vacation and the candidate’s prior years of county service maintained for accrual purposes. Warren said that the interim appointment would continue while staff finalize a job description and that placement at step 9 reflects the currently budgeted salary grade; future salary-grade changes could alter placement.

Warren also reported a request from Corrections to reclassify an administrative assistant 3 position into an offender services lead at salary grade 21 with a 5% salary increase. She said these items would appear on an upcoming agenda and that the interim assistant appointment would be temporary while the job description is finalized.

The board then adjourned to a five-minute executive session “performance of a public employee” and returned to open session with no decision rendered, as the chair announced.

No formal vote outcomes were recorded during the meeting; HR requested the items be placed on the agenda for consideration. The executive session produced no action and was described as lasting an estimated five minutes.","Human resources presented personnel requests from public works and corrections — step placement for a utilities foreman, interim assistant county engineer pay and vacation placement, and a promotion in corrections — and the board briefly adjourned to an executive session on performance of a public employee and reported no decision afterward.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6173350,"County to consider a 5% increase in DOC per-diem on consent agenda; staff discuss operational limits",58,2207000,2265000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5382470-562c61295537c5bcd12253eede252885&start=2207&end=2265","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5382470-562c61295537c5bcd12253eede252885/thumbnail_2207000.jpg","/articles/6173350/Cowlitz-County/Washington/County-to-consider-a-5-increase-in-DOC-per-diem-on-consent-agenda-staff-discuss-operational-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173350-17f63294ab05e16e0df535888d0aa02e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770582338&Signature=G6fIwljefh~XgHCzkwh7NiX1PAvyrvQzpECBdA8D4-bhvrItzVMTQH41eO-KTBfVHN5x1j6eLIplfASOPrSkGTrjkavco87Awawv9GdpXNs0uRZuwotD6KwlPFN4wKxob-QM4lNl~aGlNQERRmHMy0F7zLAMUiZqWMdkvUsCq9IUwA5KrLSZ5fYngk7NUJy1DN8P-YYlukdL5fUUeARuugm6nDiiHcZu11G6ox1YgldGP0C4D0wUkFq81eAW0Yb8EgUEzwTjHABb1NUxe1ycrn2N2VuDXONOmPZvX6nX0e2qT3NCMTceCvexvNctIfuLQUjoVqg0p8gz~aFfHzey8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ryn Fox, the county director of corrections, told the board that a contract amendment with the Washington State Department of Corrections will appear on the consent agenda and increases the daily per-diem paid by the state by 5% to $114.49.

“We've had this contract in place for very many years, 20 plus, to hold their — what would be commonly understood as parole violators,” Fox said, describing the long-standing arrangement. Fox said the state’s annual built-in price increase is the reason for the 5% raise and that the county has averaged under 10 DOC inmates at a time.

County staff discussed why some other counties or cities decline to accept DOC inmates. Fox said space and medical/behavioral needs make some DOC transfers less suitable for local jails and that DOC has alternative facilities to which it can transport higher-needs individuals. “If we know they're gonna be a problem and put the county in liability and we know DOC has an option to take them elsewhere, we're gonna let them take care of their own high-needs people,” Fox said.

Fox said the county's DOC contract has been amended periodically since 2019 and that the county reviews the arrangement annually. No vote on the contract amendment was recorded at the meeting; Fox said the item would appear on the consent agenda for the commissioners to consider the following day.

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting:
- Proposed per-diem increase: 5%, bringing the rate to $114.49 per inmate per day (as discussed on the consent agenda items for the next meeting).
- Average DOC inmates housed at the facility: fewer than 10 (running average reported by staff).
- Contract history: county has maintained a DOC contract; specific amendment history includes rate changes since 2019.

The meeting included questions about the frequency of rate review and the county’s liability-management practices for inmates with medical or behavioral needs. No formal action was taken at this meeting; the contract amendment was scheduled for vote on the consent agenda the following day.","Corrections director said an existing contract with the Washington State Department of Corrections will go to the consent agenda with a 5% per-diem increase to $114.49; staff discussed low usage and reasons some counties decline DOC transfers.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6173355,"Court facilitator appointments, BECCA reimbursements affect court revenue unpredictability",460,100000,560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5382470-562c61295537c5bcd12253eede252885&start=100&end=560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5382470-562c61295537c5bcd12253eede252885/thumbnail_100000.jpg","/articles/6173355/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Court-facilitator-appointments-BECCA-reimbursements-affect-court-revenue-unpredictability","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173355-fe032b43a4439393b1fea44b8683cd4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770582338&Signature=KkDzx-vyGdw2G1FfqArWj9g9M4VlLIBQrpBwdzH6XVBRnjw8ifY4KkuiyAYyQPPebJU8fKDjm6awamV2oN6ZGi662cZJ7MkCYRhkk1SoGv7RaNCNeMt6dr5dMnNXT0FmTiTqiAI8lTMEpv8tHTMzdCAMRPLIEgArs3zZJDFuFe1bzIlnNs8Bntft0g5o0rs7r2BxK3eaehywcI~HdNveYd9B05K2xJyFMYO-NTjrY8Nf0bsnhU0nKSyq-YsoCQdDyzobXEKqz0YYMatJ2-2yI4-ZeEMmdh1QPozXG-z-86HamEX-OU3LpqJT6~naYyWXzi2hZsXouaswrJmSoMxEvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Court and finance staff explained that several court revenue lines are difficult to forecast because receipts depend on the number and type of cases filed and on whether litigants use paid representation.

A speaker who identified herself as Stacy Michael West Clark explained that at the start of the year it is “kind of hard to to judge” how court revenue lines will land because revenue depends on how many divorces, small-claims filings and probates are filed and whether people need copies or other services.

Kathy Funk Baxter, finance director, provided specific line items: fines and penalties were budgeted at $12,000 but have produced $23,000 so far; miscellaneous revenue had no beginning-year budget and has produced $13,000 to date, of which she said $11,000 was BECCA funding reimbursed by the state for costs associated with BECCA cases (an example is truancy). Baxter said the juvenile department tracks BECCA filings and the state provides reimbursements.

Staff described a courthouse facilitator program that reviews final paperwork for self-represented litigants (pro se) before those cases are placed on a judge’s docket. The facilitator charges appointment fees; staff said that as more people represent themselves the facilitator’s appointments and associated fees have increased. “We have the court facilitator. What she does is reviews final paperwork for people that do not have attorneys representing them and schedules them for their court hearings,” a court staff member said, adding that the facilitator does not provide legal advice but checks that forms and procedures are complete.

Staff also noted the emergence of weekly clinics provided by legal-aid providers. A court staff member said Northwest Justice and Legal Aid (referenced in the meeting) are offering clinics at the Hall of Justice and “that might cut into our revenue a little bit” if litigants obtain free legal help instead of using the facilitator appointment service.

Finance staff said they will monitor relevant lines and include adjustments in the third-quarter budget amendment if warranted. No formal vote or policy change was taken during the meeting; staff described ongoing monitoring and the need to amend revenue budgets during routine quarterly adjustments.

Key clarifying figures discussed:
- Fines and penalties: budgeted $12,000; receipts $23,000 year-to-date.
- Miscellaneous revenue: $13,000 year-to-date; $11,000 BECCA-related reimbursements.
- Court personnel and services: personnel budget and vacancy impacts noted; court facilitator appointment fees producing revenue but subject to demand shifts.

No formal actions were taken; staff indicated the third-quarter budget amendment will be the vehicle to adjust revenue estimates as needed.","Court staff and finance reported unpredictable fee and case-driven revenue streams, discussed BECCA (truancy) reimbursements and a rising number of pro se finalization appointments handled by a court facilitator; Northwest Justice/Legal Aid clinics could affect that revenue trend.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners weigh revenue, cuts and park funding after budget retreat

HR brings personnel step and interim promotions; short executive session held with no decision

County to consider a 5% increase in DOC per-diem on consent agenda; staff discuss operational limits

Court facilitator appointments, BECCA reimbursements affect court revenue unpredictability