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Commissioners discuss capital request for courtroom space as behavioral-health bed openings increase
Summary
County and court leaders are coordinating a capital request to address courtroom and calendar capacity needed to handle increased behavioral-health cases tied to new treatment beds. Staff will work with Superior Court and state legislators on a focused capital ask.
Thurston County commissioners on Jan. 21 discussed a request to seek state capital funding to expand courtroom space and other capital needs after state-funded behavioral-health facilities increase bed capacity.
County staff and Superior Court representatives described four operational pressures the county expects when additional behavioral-health treatment beds come online: insufficient judicial-calendar time, limited courtroom space, a surge in filings that burdens court and facility operations, and an increase in jury trials that would require additional courtroom capacity and a judge. Judge Ndu Thomas and court staff relayed those concerns to commissioners and Senator Bateman’s staff during recent conversations, county staff said.
County Manager Leonard Hernandez reported that the Behavioral Health Authority has allocated operational dollars to help cover increased per-case costs, but the court’s concern centers on capital needs — physical courtroom and facility space — to serve additional court proceedings tied to treatment placements. Commissioner Wayne Fournier and others urged staff to prepare a narrowly focused capital-budget request for the Hilltop courthouse renovation (and related courtroom modifications) rather than a broad, multi-project ask.
Commissioners directed county staff to coordinate with Superior Court, Thurston-Mason Behavioral Health authorities and the county’s legislative contacts to assemble a concise capital request and to seek Senator Bateman’s assistance in advancing the request. Staff said they will verify operational funding that has been committed for per-case costs and will return with a short estimate of capital needs and recommended next steps to the board.
Ending: County and court staff will hold a follow-up meeting with the Superior Court judge and behavioral-health partners to finalize a capital ask and clarify which operational costs — if any — the county should request from the Legislature.
