Cowlitz County prosecutors flag shrinking state support, outline budgets and staffing strain

Cowlitz County prosecutors outlined the office’s budget picture during a budget-review presentation to the county commissioners, saying reduced state support and shifting legal-financial authority have left some victim and program accounts strained.

The office reported roughly $62,000 collected so far of a $116,000 intergovernmental revenue budget for the general fund prosecuting attorney account and personnel expenses of about $1.5 million of a $2.7 million personnel budget. On victim services, the presenter said the PA Victim‑Witness fund (fund 148) was receiving transfers and grants and is exceeding its intergovernmental budget "we are exceeding budget. We're at 95,000 of 66,000," according to the prosecutor. Staff said some transfers were approved in prior annual cycles and a budget amendment may be needed to recognize newly recorded grant revenue.

The presenter described statewide policy changes that reduced legally imposed financial obligations to victims and replaced a formerly distributed crime‑victim funding stream with a smaller lump-sum appropriation from the state legislature. "When they got rid of the crime victim fund, they then come up with there's a lump sum out of the state budget… I think they were shooting for 4 million. The legislature came up with 2 million," the prosecutor said, adding the change has left counties with less predictable aid for victim services. The office also noted regionalization of support enforcement—where larger counties absorb neighboring caseloads—has been a recent trend affecting staffing and reimbursements.

County officials raised staffing concerns and retention pressures tied to changing caseloads. The prosecutor described current local staffing as lean after gradual reductions in support staff and attorney FTEs over the past decade and said the office is exploring compensation and recruitment options to meet rising workload demands.

Looking ahead, officials said they will track additional grant awards and necessary budget amendments and will continue advocacy around state funding to shore up victim services.