Washington Counties Risk Pool warns of rising claims, funding pressure in Cowlitz County workshop

Chuck Boyd, executive director of the Washington Counties Risk Pool, told Cowlitz County commissioners Monday that rising jury awards and changes in the insurance market have pushed the pool to absorb more risk and face funding pressure.

“The mission of the WCRP is to provide comprehensive and economical risk coverage to reduce the frequency and severity of losses,” Boyd said during a workshop led by the pool. He described a shift in recent years from a $100,000 self‑insured retention to a $3,000,000 retention per claim and said that trend has increased the pool’s funding needs.

Why it matters: The Washington Counties Risk Pool provides liability and property coverage for 24 of Washington’s 39 counties and other optional coverages. When the pool’s finances are strained, member counties may face higher assessments or be asked to increase deductibles. Boyd told commissioners the pool is pursuing a mix of short‑term funding measures and long‑term risk management to reduce claims.

Boyd outlined the pool’s structure and services, including annual board representation for each county, a membership compact, and shared programs such as training, contract review, and a pre‑defense review service that Boyd said is offered free to members. He said the pool supports risk management tools that member counties can adopt — from Lexipol policy subscriptions for law enforcement (with an 80 percent reimbursement if agencies meet usage thresholds) to…