Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Cowlitz County Superior Court seeks smaller judge-pro-tem budget, flags rising professional-service costs
Summary
Superior Court presenters told the Board of County Commissioners they are trimming Judge Pro Tem spending by $40,000 for 2026 but expect higher professional‑services costs tied to state‑mandated services and interpreter needs; therapeutic courts showed staffing shifts and revenue mixes that reduce general‑fund exposure.
Judge Marilyn Hahn, presiding judge of Superior Court, told the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners that Superior Court is the county’s trial court and handles a broad caseload, including felony criminal matters, family law and adoptions. She said the court’s filings have been heavy this year and introduced budget presentations for the superior and therapeutic courts.
Danielle Pauls, Superior Court administrator, said the court is proposing a $40,000 reduction in the Judge Pro Tem line for 2026 because schedule and personnel changes have reduced the court’s use of pro tem judges. “We are asking to reduce that by 40,000,” Pauls said. She said the court left a…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
