Cowlitz County commissioners decline to renew juvenile-detention contract with Columbia County

Cowlitz County commissioners voted to not renew the county's juvenile-detention contract with Columbia County, saying liability risks and poor cost recovery make continued out-of-county placements untenable.

Commissioners voted to refuse renewal after staff presented data showing revenue from other counties totaled about $69,000 in 2025 and was projected at roughly $78,000 for 2026, while operating the juvenile facility costs the county an estimated $3 million to $4 million annually. A motion to not approve renewal carried with one commissioner opposed.

The vote comes after commissioners and staff raised repeated concerns about tort-liability exposure tied to historical awards they referred to as "SAM" claims, which can expose counties to large long-term awards arising from past incidents. George Moya, juvenile services staff, told commissioners the county was receiving limited revenue from contracts and that reimbursement formulas vary by jurisdiction; he said Columbia County's effective per-day reimbursement, calculated from days used, amounted to roughly $414 per bed-day in the county's accounting, while other contracts or proposals have cited per-day rates as low as $161 or a common $250 rate discussed among jurisdictions.

Commissioners said those figures do not cover fixed staffing and facility costs. "Our detention facilities are our highest risk and highest cost," one commissioner said, adding that a single large tort award could erase years of contract revenue. Commissioners discussed options including charging a premium to outside counties, standardizing a statewide bed-rate formula, or ending intercounty contracts so counties must press the state for systemic reforms.

George Moya said the Columbia County arrangement was structured differently from some other contracts: Columbia pays on a monthly basis regardless of usage, which affects how per-day amounts are derived. After the motion passed, staff said the existing agreement had expired and the county would provide written notice of contract termination to Columbia County.

The decision does not change the county's policy toward juvenile services for local residents; rather, commissioners said it reflects a judgment that the financial return and liability exposure from accepting out-of-county youth under current terms is no longer acceptable. Commissioners asked staff to explore standardizing bed-rate calculations and to report back on options for charging higher rates or limiting placements.

Next steps: staff will issue formal notice of nonrenewal and return with options for contract terms or alternatives for managing future out-of-county placement requests.