Cities pay the county to hold the people they arrest, and the deals differ

Oct. 26 update: The new jail is now in design. The County caps it at $205 million, on the Hannegan site.

A behavioral care center on Division Street is capped at $20 million.

The plan is 440 to 460 beds, down from a first proposal of 650. The final count is set during design.

The jail sales tax brings in about $14 million a year, about $225 million in all, Salish Current reported.

Voters in 2023 were told spending would split evenly between the jail and behavioral health. A County spokesperson told Salish Current the project is not at that split yet.

A rapid reentry center was dropped from construction for now. The County plans to ask the state to pay for it.

Update, Oct. 27: The County Council gave the County Executive the go-ahead to sign the cost-sharing deal for the new jail and behavioral care center. The deal is with Bellingham, Blaine, Everson, Ferndale, Lynden, Nooksack and Sumas, the County's records show. A motion to hold the deal for changes failed 2 to 5. The final vote count is not in the draft minutes.

Nov. 6 update: each city council now has to approve the new jail cost deal, the Lynden Tribune reported.

The County approved the deal Oct. 27, its records show.

Small cities would send the County 75% of their share of the public safety sales tax through 2034, the paper reported.

That could stretch to 2038 if the tax brings in too little. The cities would cover any gap above $10 million.

The 2024 plan asked the small cities for 4 to 6 years of payments, the paper reported.

The County's planning caps are $205 million for the jail and $20 million for the behavioral care center.

Nooksack's council discussed the deal Nov. 2 and did not vote.

Nov. 7 update: Clark County's jail bond and staffing tax were short of passing in the election-night count, the County's results report shows.

The $366 million bond had 53% yes. It needs 60%.

The property tax increase for jail staff had 48% yes. It needs a simple majority.

Clark County says it will not sell the bonds unless the staffing money is secured.

These are unofficial results from 8 p.m. Nov. 3. Later counts can change them.

What's next: Clark County keeps counting until results are certified.

What's next: each city council votes. No dates are on record.

• Whatcom County and its seven citiesCounty committee Oct. 27The voter-approved 2023 public safety sales tax began collection April 1, 2024. The County puts 100% of its proceeds in its Public Safety and Justice Facility Fund, and, the County says, "under a 2024 interlocal agreement, cities remit 75% of their proceeds to the county." The capital cost has moved in steps: a preliminary $150 million in the 2024 agreement and $174 million after a late-2024 update, per the County, then a $205 million construction cap the Council approved in August, per Salish Current, which says the tax raises about $14 million a year. A new interlocal among the County and seven cities (AB2026-783) went to the County's Finance Committee Oct. 27. We have not read its text, so we can't say what it changes.
• Whatcom's 2024 draft agreementUnsigned, undated draftA draft posted on the City of Lynden's meeting site, with a financing model dated Feb. 23, 2024, splits a 0.2% countywide tax 60% to the County and 40% to the cities by population. Cities pay 75% monthly for 54 months from July 2024, and all parties pay the same per-day rates. Not confirmed: whether the signed agreement matches this draft beyond the 75% term, which is the only term the County confirms.
• SpokaneReported Apr. 9The city pays for people held on misdemeanors in city limits, the county for felonies, and billing is per day. The city's jail bill rose from $4.2 million in 2021 to about $10 million in 2025, per RANGE, which cites city figures.
• Wenatchee and Chelan CountyCity approved Aug. 13A new interlocal through 2027 ended litigation. The city pays $2.5 million for 2025 and $2.51 million for 2026, then $213 per inmate day in 2027 with a $2.2 million minimum, per KPQ. Wenatchee's council approved it Aug. 13; the county commissioners' vote was scheduled for Aug. 17. We have not read the result of that vote.
• Clark CountyWork session June 24For scale: renovation and expansion options total $344.0 million (675 main beds) or $492.4 million (867 main beds), 5 to 6 years from January 2027. The County's slides name no financing source and no city share.

Not confirmed yet: what AB2026-783 changes, and Chelan County's Aug. 17 vote. The County and Salish Current give different design timelines, so we give no completion date.

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