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Cowlitz County to phase in higher district court billing rates after method review; cities press for details
Summary
County finance staff proposed switching district court billing to a cost-allocation method and phasing increases over three years; city officials asked for line-item breakdowns and a joint review committee.
Cowlitz County finance officials told county commissioners they will move district court billing to a cost-allocation method and phase higher rates in over three years to better match the court's actual operating costs.
Kathy Funk Baxter, Cowlitz County finance director, presented the proposal and said the county plans to calculate rates from the most recent completed fiscal year and weight criminal cases higher because they require more staff time. "What I'm proposing is we would always base it upon our total cost and the number of cases," she said.
Under the plan presented, the county would bill a higher interim rate for 2026 and continue phased…
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