Franklin County public defender warns state rules could raise 2026 budget to about $2.4 million

Larry Ziegler, administrator for Franklin County’s Office of Public Defense, told the Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 24 that recent state-level rule changes and other mandates are forcing the county to anticipate higher costs and to expand coverage for court appearances.

Ziegler said the office’s working budget does not reflect recent mandates and other changes from Olympia and the state Supreme Court. “Basically what we did was the budget I submitted was for the 01/2008, and then when the 600,000 came in that the auditor said we were gonna be short. I’m basically saying for starting purposes right now, I think we ought to count on at least a 2.4, maybe higher for 2026,” Ziegler said. He later described a Supreme Court-driven change that shortened some arraignment timing from 14 days to three days, requiring additional attorney coverage: “The Supreme Court said, well, we don’t like that anymore. You’re gonna have to do it within 3. So immediately, I had to provide somehow come up with additional coverage for 3 days every week.”

Why it matters: Ziegler said the policy changes increase the number of court appearances his office must staff and the amount of attorney time needed, and he warned the county is vulnerable if neighboring counties pay attorneys more. He said hiring pressures and competition for public defense lawyers are pushing compensation up and that Franklin County should be competitive with nearby Benton County to avoid losing staff.

Commissioners and staff discussed possible local revenue options to shore up criminal-justice budgets. Commissioner remarks during the workshop referenced councilmanic public-safety sales taxes and other local options; staff said the county already collects some sales taxes used for public safety and that legal limits on uses would need review. “Let me look into it, and I’ll find out if we can do that,” a staff member said in response to a commissioner question about a councilmanic sales tax.

Ziegler and several commissioners framed the issue as part budget and part policy: Ziegler described state direction toward diversion and alternatives to incarceration that can increase county costs because they add social-service and program requirements on top of attorney staffing. “What they’re talking about are the even more expensive alternatives to incarceration…you need all these social workers. You need all these alternative programs…the ones that cost real money,” Ziegler said.

Commissioners heard Ziegler raise potential long-term responses — from anticipatory hiring and using interns to exploring facility and staffing plans — but no formal direction or votes were taken during the workshop. County staff said budget hearings and final adoption are scheduled in the usual cycle in mid-November and December, and that workshop figures are preliminary.

Ending: Ziegler and the commissioners agreed to continue detail work on the 2026 budget, including review of potential revenue options and coordination with neighboring counties, and to return with more complete cost estimates before final hearings.