Renton budget amendment proposes end to city‑run electronic home detention; staff, former officers spar over risks

Renton City Council heard a public hearing and multiple public comments Tuesday on a mid‑biennium budget amendment that, as drafted, would end the city‑operated electronic home detention (EHD) program and rely on private providers to deliver monitoring services.

Kristin Travellas, Renton finance director, opened the public hearing and said the council would consider updated budget figures at a Finance Committee meeting on Oct. 27 before any final adoption. "All of our public hearings have been properly noticed and provide the opportunity for stakeholders to provide their input," she said.

Several speakers with direct experience in Renton’s EHD program urged the council to keep the program in city hands. "The problem is not electronic home detention department. The problem now is communication within the city of Renton," said former EHD coordinator Darryl Pilote, describing three decades of work and warning that terminating long‑tenured staff would sacrifice institutional knowledge.

Georgia Bunko, who was hired as a second full‑time EHD coordinator in 1999, traced the program’s development and cited state legislative changes that regulated private providers. "If the council votes on the budget as it is written to close the Renton EHD program, the city of Renton will be liable for the defendants that are monitored by these companies," Bunko said, adding she had observed questionable practices at two private firms.

Former EHD sergeant Kenny McMullan emphasized training and certification requirements for city corrections staff. "Private home monitoring providers don't have to go through the integrity process we did," McMullan said, noting city officers completed academy training, psych tests and yearlong probation before assignment.

Mark Coleman, president of the Renton Police Guild, read excerpts of thank‑you notes from people on EHD and warned of equity effects if monitoring shifts to for‑profit providers. "I'm concerned affluent clients will be able to afford EHD where they can stay home. And I'm concerned marginalized citizens from marginalized communities will not be able to afford EHD and be forced to go to jail," he said.

Facing public comment, Deputy Chief Ryan Rutledge summarized the program’s history and the rationale reflected in the budget amendment. He said the city established EHD while operating an in‑city jail and continued it after the region opened SCORE jail. "A recent evaluation found that continuing to operate the program internally is not fiscally sustainable or responsible use of taxpayer funds," Rutledge said, and staff proposals in the mid‑biennium amendment would transition service provision to private firms while maintaining service continuity for courts and defendants.

Councilmembers asked about how new public‑safety sales tax revenues will be allocated and whether any future model could preserve local oversight. Councilmember Rivera said the public safety sales tax will fund several new positions and that the mid‑biennium amendment "will be providing a number of much needed raises for our non‑represented staff and hiring two new CED positions while dissolving our EHM program and firing those officers," language she used in describing the proposed amendment.

The council closed the public hearing by motion (moved by Council President Alverson; second by Councilmember Perez). The budget amendment and property tax ordinance remain subject to further committee review and final council action; no final adoption of the mid‑biennium amendment was recorded at this meeting.

Speakers who urged retaining the in‑house program highlighted staff training, program continuity, and additional services (fingerprinting and DNA support) that they say are unique to city corrections staff. City staff emphasized fiscal sustainability and noted private providers would continue to offer monitoring services under the proposed budget.

The public record established at the hearing will be considered as the Finance Committee reviews updated figures ahead of any final vote.