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Mount Vernon approves contract and startup loan to regional public-defense provider
Summary
Mount Vernon and neighboring cities authorized a contract with North County Public Defense (Whatcom County) for indigent defense services, including a no‑interest startup loan of $181,028.43 split among the three cities; Mount Vernon’s share is 54.4%.
Mount Vernon councilors authorized the mayor to sign an interlocal agreement with North County Public Defense (NCPD) of Whatcom County to provide indigent defense services to Mount Vernon, Burlington and Sedro‑Woolley (Sedgwick). The agreement runs July 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027, with an option to extend.
Special Projects Manager Steve Sexton told council the agreement is the product of a competitive request-for-qualifications process and includes financial reporting requirements and a contract reopener if Washington Supreme Court standards change. The contract requires a startup, no-interest loan of $181,028.43 from the three cities to NCPD; the loan will be repaid over 30 months. Sexton said Mount Vernon’s share is 54.4 percent of the loan based on prior-year case counts.
Sexton noted one clerical fix would be made to the contract’s stipend dates before signature. Council member Richard moved to authorize the mayor to execute the agreement; the motion passed with a second from Melissa Beaton.
Sexton said the arrangement aims to keep the cities in compliance with forthcoming and evolving Washington State Supreme Court standards for caseloads and indigent-defense operations. NCPD will provide quarterly profit-and-loss statements to the cities for oversight.
