Sumner Bonney Lake court agreement introduces joint judge and community court changes

The City of Sumner, Washington, held a council meeting on July 15, 2025, focusing on updates regarding its interlocal agreement with Bonney Lake for municipal court services. The meeting addressed several key topics, including the efficiency of court operations, community court funding, and changes to the agreement's terms.

The discussion began with an overview of the current court system's challenges, particularly the lengthy processing times for cases, which have skewed performance metrics. Sumner's caseload has been increasing, while Bonney Lake's has stabilized, prompting concerns about rising court costs. The cities have historically operated with separate judges, leading to inefficiencies. To address this, the council proposed a joint judge system to streamline operations and improve consistency in case processing.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the community court program, which is currently funded entirely by grants. The program has shown promise, with recent graduations, but the council emphasized the need for clarity in the interlocal agreement regarding the potential discontinuation of the program if grant funding diminishes. The council members discussed the importance of maintaining flexibility to close the program if necessary, given the state’s ongoing reductions in funding requests.

The council also reviewed the financial aspects of the interlocal agreement, which has been revised to reflect a three-year term aligned with the biennial budget cycle of both cities. This change aims to provide stability and reduce the frequency of renegotiations. The agreement includes a new cost allocation model based on courtroom usage, with Sumner responsible for 30% of the costs and Bonney Lake for 70%. This model was favored over a case count system, which was deemed less equitable.

In terms of financial implications, the new agreement is expected to increase Sumner's service fees by approximately $25,000 annually, with additional costs for probation services and miscellaneous fees. Overall, the council anticipates an increase of about $43,000 in annual expenses related to the agreement.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for improved collaboration between Sumner and Bonney Lake to enhance the efficiency of their court systems. The revised interlocal agreement will be presented for approval in the upcoming council meeting, marking a significant step toward a more integrated judicial approach for both cities.