Lewis County adopts budget amendment, approves public-health and court treatment contracts

The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Nov. 4 to adopt an amendment to the county’s 2025 budget and to approve a series of contracts and memoranda of understanding intended to support language-access services and treatment and recovery programs tied to the criminal justice system.

Becky Butler, county staff handling the budget report, told the board that "with the changes incorporated, this total budget amendment reflects a decrease in expenditures of $1,496,475 and a decrease in revenue of $2,041,750," and that the change reduces the county’s estimated ending fund balance by $545,275. She said the general fund portion of the amendment increases revenue by $38,206 and increases expenditures by $187,450.

During deliberations the board approved an amendment to a contract with Communicativeo to provide services for people with limited English proficiency. Mija Hanlon, director of Public Health and Social Services, said the amendment adds $176,433 to an original $58,811 for a total contract value of $235,244 running through June 30, 2026.

County staff also presented several contracts and MOUs funded by the Washington State Criminal Justice Treatment Account. Caroline Garabaley of Public Health and Social Services described a $256,330 contract from the Washington State Health Care Authority to support treatment and recovery services for the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. Additional items approved include:

- A District Court public defense contract with Sound Defenders to cover the remainder of the year (resolution 25-315). - A two-year, $54,433 contract with Eugenia Center to provide transportation for drug court participants and routine urine analysis screening (07/01/2025–06/30/2027). - An MOU reimbursing drug court up to $20,000 for contracted clinical services plus up to $10,000 for recovery support services, for a combined maximum of $30,000 (07/01/2025–06/30/2027). - An MOU reimbursing Superior Court up to $69,365 to support a 0.5 full-time-equivalent assistant program coordinator for the mental health court (07/01/2025–06/30/2027). - A $76,899 contract with Cascade Community Healthcare to provide substance-use assessments, outreach and referrals for incarcerated individuals (07/01/2025–06/30/2027).

Commissioners discussed distribution of state funds and constraints on how the Health Care Authority allows funds to be used. A commissioner commented that the county’s $76,000 contract for two years is "highly insufficient," noting that larger counties receive much larger shares of state funding; Garabaley replied that the county seeks to maximize allocations within HCA limits and that no more than 30% of funds may be used for in-jail treatment without HCA approval.

All resolutions and contracts presented in the block were approved by roll-call voice as a group, with the board recording a 3–0 vote on the budget amendment and the contract resolutions.