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Committee reviews SCORE rate amendment and Puyallup interagency jail agreement; staff cites mitigation options
Summary
Commander Kyle Buchanan presented proposed increases to SCORE jail rates, a booking-fee hike and a new video-court fee; he described mitigation tactics including using Nisqually beds. The committee also considered a Puyallup housing agreement rate increase from $169 to $185 per bed. Both items were forwarded to the Nov. 5 consent agenda.
The committee reviewed two separate jail-housing items on Oct. 28: a proposed SCORE jail services rate amendment and a proposed interagency agreement with Puyallup City Jail.
Commander Kyle Buchanan presented the SCORE amendment as a 2026 rate update that includes roughly 5% increases for bed types, an increase in the booking fee from $80 to $95, and a proposed $75 per-appearance video-court fee. Buchanan told the committee staff expect the video-court fee to add about $250,000 in costs for 2026 compared with 2025 based on current usage, and that the department plans to mitigate some costs by using Nisqually booking and transfers when practical. Buchanan said the city has 25 guaranteed beds reserved at SCORE; additional beds beyond that carry a non-guaranteed, higher rate.
Buchanan also presented a proposed interagency agreement with Puyallup City Jail. Puyallup notified the city it would raise rates from $169 to $185 per bed and would increase some transportation and hospital-transport fees. Federal Way staff said that, based on current booking patterns, the city's annual cost at Puyallup is estimated at about $60,000â$75,000; Puyallup charges only for used beds (no guaranteed beds).
After discussion, the committee forwarded both items to the Nov. 5 consent agenda (voice votes recorded as 3-0).
