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Okanogan County staff outline $781,000 courthouse accessibility grant, warn of $308,000 cash match
Summary
County staff told commissioners a Department of Housing and Community Development (DHP) grant of roughly $781,000 could fund courtroom accessibility and ADA improvements, but that the county must identify about $308,000 in cash match and phase work across two fiscal years.
Okanogan County staff told the Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 7 that a DHP grant of roughly $781,000 is available for courthouse accessibility work, but the county must provide a substantial match to access the funding.
Lainie, a county staff member, said the grant covers projects paid for between Jan. 1, 2024, and the present if they have not already been used as match for other grants. "The grant amount is $750,000" she said, and later clarified the figure is approximately $781,000. She said the county faces a cash match requirement of about $308,000 to unlock the full award, bringing the combined project total close to $1.5 million.
County staff described the proposed scope as upgrades to the third‑floor courtrooms that focus on ADA accessibility: reducing or removing step‑up access to the gallery and judge—s bench, improving jury room circulation, modifying doors and restroom access in the clerk/Superior Courtroom area, and adding courtroom technology and other ADA features. "The third floor courtrooms are not ADA compliant," Lainie said, noting steps that prevent easy wheelchair access.
Staff proposed phasing design and construction across two fiscal years. They asked the commission to use available hard‑match funds this year to pay for preliminary designs and architect fees, then allocate construction dollars and the majority of grant spending in 2027. "My thought is that the hard match will be used this year for the preliminary designs, and then next year, we'll dig into the construction," Lainie said.
Commissioners and staff also discussed what local funds could be used as match. Staff said some generator and ADA work already paid for in 2024 could count toward the match, but cautioned that other county bond and capital funds are restricted and cannot be repurposed. "This fund we cannot use any more money out of this fund…because this is the payment for our bond fund," Lainie said, recommending a careful accounting of available funds.
Commissioners did not take a final vote on the project on Oct. 7; staff said they would prepare budget notes and schedule follow‑up work to identify exact match sources and a two‑year spending plan.
