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Commissioners press juvenile‑court staff on detention contract rates and county subsidy
Summary
Juvenile Court presented an amendment extending a Columbia County contract and raising the daily rate to $161; commissioners questioned whether Cowlitz is subsidizing other counties and asked staff to provide contract revenue and cost breakdowns for further action.
Juvenile Court staff told commissioners the county proposes to amend several intergovernmental contracts to extend detention services through May 31, 2028, and to increase the daily bed rate for Columbia County from $152 to $161.
George Moya, Juvenile Court, explained Columbia County pays a monthly fee regardless of use and would benefit from a predictable rate, while other jurisdictions pay per use under separate agreements. Moya said the state contract rate recently quoted in legislative hearings is substantially higher (~$250/day), and that Cowlitz County’s own internal cost to operate the juvenile center runs roughly $350–$450 per bed per day depending on population and fixed costs.
Commissioners expressed concern that neighboring counties are receiving a large operational subsidy from Cowlitz, given the discrepancy between the host county’s operating cost and the contracted per‑bed rates. One commissioner asked staff to bring a detailed accounting of the revenue the county receives from each external contract and the county’s per‑day cost calculations so the board can determine whether the current contracting structure is equitable.
Next steps: Juvenile Court will return with contract revenue figures by sending county and a more detailed breakdown of actual operating costs and population assumptions for board review.
