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Commissioners give 'temperature check' on Metro Drug Task Force budget, interlocal agreement changes
Summary
County staff sought a ‘temperature check’ on a proposed interim $205,000 July–December Metro Drug Task Force budget and recommended making a temporary interlocal amendment permanent that splits overages (18.18% each for major partners, 9.1% for West Richland) and adds a 7% Kennewick administrative fee.
County staff briefed the Benton County Board of Commissioners on proposed budget and interlocal agreement changes for the Metro Drug Task Force and sought commissioners’ support before formal approvals.
Matt (speaker 15) explained Metro needs an interim budget of about $205,000 for July–December to align the agency’s fiscal year with participating agencies’ calendar-year budgets. Metro expects roughly $20,000 in revenue for the period and proposes covering the remainder from Metro operating reserves; drawing approximately $185,000 would keep the operating fund near a one-year reserve threshold.
Matt also described a proposed permanent change to the interlocal agreement that would continue an existing temporary cost-sharing formula: Pasco, Franklin County, Benton County, Kennewick and Richland would each take 18.18% of overages while West Richland would take 9.1%. In addition, Kennewick— which administers Metro and hosts its staff and technology—asked to add its standard 7% administrative fee, increasing the annual Metro budget by roughly $20,000 (to about $405,000) and producing a modest increase to Benton County’s share (estimated at roughly $10,000 annually).
Matt recommended retaining the 18.18% split for Benton County and accepting the Kennewick administrative fee as reasonable compensation for admin services. Commissioners treated the presentation as a "temperature check" and did not take immediate formal action; staff said the county would return when budget and interlocal agreement items are ready for formal approval.
