Spokane County court outlines staffing cuts, pared services after state trim to BECCA funding

Spokane County Superior Court officials told the Spokane County Board of Commissioners on June 16 that state funding cuts to BECCA-related programs have forced a staffing and service reorganization intended to preserve statutorily required hearings while reducing other direct services.

The court’s plan, presented at the commissioners’ strategic planning meeting, is to continue holding hearings required under state law and to retain a judicial officer and a court coordinator, while eliminating two full‑time superior court positions and reducing some case management roles. County staff said the changes are intended to meet the statutory minimum and to preserve an outreach point for schools and families where possible.

Court representative: The court representative explained that the state funding is administered through the courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts and that the county will “do everything we can” to keep hearings and core functions running. The representative…