Spokane — A briefing on the Martin Hall juvenile detention consortium budget rekindled an ongoing county debate over the board’s legal obligations and past resistance to approving the consortium’s operating budget.

Special Deputy Prosecutor Jim Amazio reviewed the consortium’s budget and the interlocal agreement governing member counties. He said Spokane County purchased five beds (18.519% of the consortium) and Martin Hall’s budget reflects a $148,000 operating deficit that will be covered by a roughly $600,000 cash reserve. “I questioned whether or not the cash reserve of 600,000 was appropriate, and it is,” Amazio said, describing the reserve as roughly two months of operating expenses.

Amazio advised the board that the consortium’s interlocal agreement requires each member county to approve the operating budget in writing and that such approval creates a general obligation to appropriate the county’s share. Commissioner French reiterated that historically the board has voted no on the budget as a matter of principle while the budget office proceeded to pay the county’s share; other commissioners and staff described prior attempts to alter the consortium composition or exit arrangements but noted legal and practical constraints.

Board members discussed prior efforts to withdraw from the consortium, possible changes in board makeup on the Martin Hall governance body and the legal framework that keeps the consortium operational for smaller counties. Staff said the Martin Hall budget item would appear on the 2:00 p.m. consent agenda for formal action.

The briefing underscored that Spokane County has limited options in the short term: the interlocal agreement language and prior precedent have led the county to pay assessments even amid formal objections, while broader change would require coordinated action by the consortium and potentially legislative or governance adjustments.