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Corrections director: state per-diem for housed DOC inmates will rise; amendment on consent agenda
Summary
The county—orrections director said the Washington State Department of Corrections will increase the daily rate the county receives to house state inmates by the contract—ap of 5%; the contract amendment will appear on the consent agenda for the next meeting.
The county—orrections director told commissioners Tuesday that an existing contract to house Department of Corrections (DOC) inmates will include a 5% annual rate increase up to the statutory cap and that a contract amendment to reflect the change will be on the consent agenda at the next meeting.
"This is the contract we've had in place for very many years, 20 plus, to hold their what would be commonly understood as probation violators," Ryn Fox, director of corrections, said. Fox said the increase brings the county aily rate to $109.04 through June 2026 and then to $114.49 thereafter, and she confirmed the rate is calculated per inmate, per day.
Fox said the facility averages fewer than 10 DOC inmates at a time and that some counties choose not to accept DOC transfers because of space and the potential for higher medical or behavioral needs. She described the county's approach as coordinating with the DOC on transfers and occasionally holding higher-needs inmates overnight while transport is arranged.
What happened: Fox notified commissioners the contract amendment increasing the per-diem rate will appear on the consent agenda at the board's next meeting. No vote on the amendment occurred at Tuesday's meeting.
Why it matters: the per-diem affects a small but steady county revenue stream tied to housing out-of-jurisdiction inmates. The county's acceptance of DOC inmates is discretionary and influenced by local capacity and liability concerns.
Looking ahead: the amendment will be considered on the consent agenda at the upcoming meeting; commissioners did not take further action at Tuesday's session.
