Monday, November 2, 2026
The Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee recommended the adoption of two agreements with Thurston County for court services.
The committee reviewed and supported the deals at a meeting on Oct. 7.
The first agreement renews a contract with Thurston County Public Defense to continue providing legal defense for indigent individuals.
The two-year contract is for a maximum amount of $685,490, which will be used to pay county staff time and any external contracting needed if public defenders must step aside due to conflicts of interest.
Tumwater Finance Director Troy Niemeyer said the new contract reflects additional costs to comply with a 2025 Washington Supreme Court mandate establishing revised caseload standards for public defenders.
The revisions lowered the maximum caseloads, revised qualifications and set minimum support staffing requirements for public defense attorneys.
Niemeyer said Thurston County is phasing in the new requirements over seven to eight years. For 2027, the proposed contract contains a 35 percent cost increase, followed by a 9.4 percent increase in 2028.
The second agreement extends the city's contract with the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution services.
The two-year contract is for $552,014, which reflects a 3 percent year-over-year increase in 2027 only.
It includes a provision so the department can provide civil legal assistance to help city staff update its criminal code.
The two contracts will be forwarded to the city council’s for review at a meeting on Oct. 20.
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OlyBlues
As predicted, the city will continue to pay exorbitant fees and increases to the county instead of operating their own municipal court, This was such a poor decision when it was made and is now coming to fruition. The city of Tumwater has positioned themselves in a hostage scenario with the county where they will have to pay whatever the county wants because they know leaders are too weak and mediocre to make any real changes. Really pathetic leadership in the city of Tumwater, taking the easy way out and allowing the county to price gouge them and taxpayers in the process.
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