Sumner and Bonney Lake negotiate three‑year interlocal for municipal court services; community court stays grant‑dependent

Sumner city staff presented a negotiated interlocal agreement with the City of Bonney Lake for municipal court services (Resolution No. 1726) during the July 14 study session. Staff said the proposed agreement sets a three‑year initial term, automatically renewable, with an 18‑month termination notice and a cost allocation based on courtroom usage rather than case count.

Andrea, the presenting staff member, said Bonney Lake has provided court services to Sumner since 2015 after Sumner closed its in‑city court. "Bonney Lake has been providing municipal court services to the city of Sumner since 2015," she said, and Bonney Lake served Sumner with a notice of termination on Dec. 30 of last year, prompting renegotiation.

Why this matters: The agreement affects court processing, staffing and Sumner's budget. Staff estimated a net budget increase for Sumner of about $43,000 in 2026 under the new cost allocation and separate probation charges, and warned that community court is currently fully grant funded and may end if grant funding stops.

Key provisions and costs - Cost allocation: The proposed agreement assigns Sumner 30% of courtroom service costs and…