The Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 31 to pause any further county disbursements tied to the Columbia Valley Center for Recovery until the board receives comprehensive operational and cost information.

Commissioner Bowman, who introduced the motion, said he has repeatedly asked for detailed financial and operational data about the center and has been unable to obtain it. "To date, we have paid half of that allocation," Bowman said, referring to a $5,470,000 joint Benton/Franklin betterments allocation. He told the board the facility’s staffing projection of 144 full-time equivalents and a national industry average labor burden could put payroll "over $20,000,000." Bowman said he could not reconcile projected reimbursements from Medicare, Medicaid and insurers with those costs and urged the board to pause further payments until it receives clear answers.

Legal counsel advised the board that rescinding or modifying the earlier county resolution would require a subsequent resolution. Commissioners said they preferred a formal resolution to pause disbursements until sufficient information is provided. The board directed the county administrator and counsel to prepare the draft resolution for the board’s next meeting schedule.

Chair and other commissioners expressed support for greater transparency and fiscal oversight. One commissioner said Franklin County must be “demanding” of information so taxpayers understand "where every dollar of these tax dollars is going." The board adopted the pause by voice vote.

The Columbia Valley Center for Recovery has been the subject of joint funding commitments by Benton and Franklin counties. Commissioners and staff discussed that Franklin County has already disbursed $2,735,000 of a $5,470,000 allocation; the pause applies to further Franklin County disbursements under Franklin County Resolution 2024-240 unless and until the board receives and accepts additional operational and cost information.

The board moved the pause as Resolution 2025-393; the motion was adopted by voice vote. The county’s legal counsel recommended that the pause be implemented by a formal resolution that either modifies or rescinds the prior action. The board asked that a draft resolution be prepared promptly and said it may be reviewed alongside planned closed and executive sessions.

Next steps: staff and legal counsel will prepare the resolution language the board requested; the county indicated the draft could be available for the Jan. 7 meeting or sooner. The pause does not rescind prior disbursements already made, and the county did not specify any timetable for lifting the pause.