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Issaquah sets aside funds for rising public defense costs and flags police station remodel
Summary
Council and staff discussed allocating public safety sales tax proceeds to cover higher public defense contract costs, behavioral health staff, and debt service for a police station remodel; administration said remodel cost estimates range from $20M–$26M and details will be refined.
Administration told the council an anticipated increase in public defense contract costs will require a sizable portion of the public safety sales tax set‑aside. "We used to pay public defenders $24,000 a month, and now we pay them $48,000 a month," administration noted to illustrate rising costs. The proposed public safety sales tax plan allocates funds to public defense, behavioral health staffing (currently three coordinators), and debt service for a future police station remodel.
Council members urged a careful scope and phase plan for the police remodel. Administration reported DLR Group previously modeled options ranging roughly $20M–$26M and said it will return in the first quarter of next year with refined scopes and cost options for council consideration. Several council members voiced support for setting aside sufficient debt service but asked for more precise cost estimates before committing final allocations.
