The Wallowa County Board of Commissioners on July 14 approved a request from the prosecuting attorney's office to provide written notice to the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) that the county intends to terminate its child-support enforcement contract. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jesse Nolte and attorney Gabriel Acosta briefed the board; the motion to authorize written notice passed 2-0.

Background and reasons: Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Nolte said the county has held an interlocal contract with the state since about 1988/1990 to provide child-support enforcement services and that current reimbursement levels do not cover the office's administrative costs. He said the contract currently brings in about $140,000 a year but that the state now reimburses only for a designated prosecutor and designated legal assistant, and that other supervisory and training time previously paid has not been reimbursed in the last 18 months. The office also reported that state reimbursements lag and that account records show the program fund (Fund 122, prosecution child support) had a negative roughly $100,000 fund balance as of May 2025.

Transition and service continuity: Prosecuting staff said they notified DSHS in advance and that the state indicated it would seek another contractor, which could be another county prosecutor's office or the Attorney General's Office. Staff told commissioners that the work is often performed remotely or electronically and that a change in contracting entity should not interrupt the service to beneficiaries.

Decision vs. next steps: The board authorized the prosecuting attorney's office to provide written notice of termination to DSHS; staff will coordinate file transfers and work with DSHS to ensure continuity of cases while transition arrangements are determined. Commissioner questions focused on fund accounting and the likely timeline for reimbursement; prosecuting staff said they expect reimbursement catch-up early next year but that delays have contributed to budgeting challenges.

Ending: The board approved providing notice; the prosecuting attorney's office will coordinate with the state to transition the work and plan staffing and budget adjustments for 2026.