Juvenile court seeks extension of intercounty detention contract; commissioners press for cost detail
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Summary
Juvenile Court requested an amendment extending the Columbia County detention contract to May 31, 2028, and increasing the bed rate (presented figures included $1.52→$1.61 for the county contract and a referenced $2.50 state contract); commissioners asked staff to bring full revenue and per‑bed cost figures to evaluate equity.
George Moya, representing Juvenile Court, told the board the county will present an amendment to its 2012 detention-services contract with Columbia County that extends the contract expiration to May 31, 2028, and increases the monthly/daily fee structure. Moya said the amended county-to-county rate would move from $1.52 to $1.61 per day under the amendment; he also noted the state contract rate cited in the hearing had increased to $2.50 per day and that administrators statewide are discussing a uniform formula to account for infrastructure, FTEs and liability.
Commissioners questioned whether the contract rates are equitable given the county’s ongoing annual cost to operate its juvenile center. Commissioners cited an annual operating cost in the meeting on the order of $3–$4 million and asked Moya to bring detailed numbers showing what the county receives from each external contract and what the county’s per‑day costs are at varying population levels. Moya agreed to bring the contract revenue and cost breakdown to the next meeting.
Why it matters: Interlocal detention contracts shift operational costs and liability among counties and can affect whether Cowlitz County subsidizes local detention capacity for neighboring jurisdictions. Commissioners expressed concern that existing per‑day payments may not reflect true operating costs.
What happens next: Juvenile Court will bring detailed revenue and cost numbers for each contract to the board at the requested follow-up meeting.