Superior Court, therapeutic courts present modest budget shifts as reimbursements and grants change

Judge Marilyn Hahn, presiding judge of Superior Court, and Danielle Paul, superior court administrator, told the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners during a budget workshop that the court is proposing only modest changes for 2026 but is managing rising costs for state‑mandated services.

“We are asking to reduce that by 40,000,” Danielle Paul said of the judge pro tem line, attributing the reduction to schedule and personnel changes that have lowered the amount of pro tem time used. Paul added that the state reimburses about half of pro tem costs when they are used.

Paul said the court is proposing an increase to its professional services line because of higher costs tied to state‑mandated services, including guardian ad…