Snohomish County Council approves $18.15 million public defender contract for 2026

The Snohomish County Council unanimously approved Motion 26-081 on Feb. 17, 2026, authorizing the County Executive to sign a 2026 contract with the Snohomish County Public Defender Association for $18,149,770 to provide indigent defense services from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026.

Council staff member Nicole Gorley told the council the contract “increases the contract by $1,400,000 from last year,” and that the 2026 contract amount “is for $18,149,770.” She said notable updates align contract language with recent caseload standards and rulings and add a new Schedule C to handle nonstandard cases and assignments.

The contract includes maximum caseload figures that Gorley described as reflecting the mandated 10% reduction: 110 felony cases and 270 misdemeanor cases. Gorley also said the agreement provides for roughly eight temporary positions to help meet the new standards and includes language on cost-of-living and market-rate adjustments tied to county employee compensation.

Jason Shores of the Office of Public Defense explained how recent state funding affects the county’s costs, saying the county received a one-time state indigent improvement appropriation that will fund $882,000 of the contract increase. He told the council the state distribution timing is changing: the county will receive an additional installment later this year and a single installment in July 2027, which he said will affect planning for future budgets.

Gorley warned the 2026 contract “will put the county $3,600,000 over budget from what was budgeted” for the contract in the current appropriation and described the typical remedy: the office would work with county finance and the executive to request a year-end budget amendment if needed. Shores and Gorley said some overages historically come from the conflict panel and expert services line items rather than the contract alone.

Council members asked clarifying questions about the source and timing of the state grant and how shortfalls would be addressed. After discussion, Councilwoman Ehring moved approval of Motion 26-081; the motion was seconded and the council voted aye 5-0 (Council Chair Dunne, Vice Chair Loh, Council Member Nering, Council Member Mead, Council Member Petersen).

The county indicated it may bring a budget amendment later in the year to reconcile appropriations and actual expenditures related to indigent defense services.