Lewis County outlines policy priorities: foundational public‑health flexibility, tort reform, jail medical reimbursement and public defense funding

At a legislative roundtable on Oct. 21, Lewis County commissioners and staff outlined multiple statewide policy priorities they said are pressing for the county's fiscal health and service delivery.

Foundational public health: Misha, director of public health and social services, asked legislators to allow greater flexibility in the Commerce/Department of Health contract and contract guidance that governs foundational public‑health dollars for small, rural jurisdictions. She described a recurring problem: local jurisdictions can be unable to hire staff paid at the same rate as larger counties, face "underspend" penalties, and then see those dollars redirected…