Cashmere weighs new jail contract based on inmate bed days

CASHMERE — A proposed new contract for jail services could significantly reduce Cashmere's costs in years with few or short jail stays, but a handful of inmates spending months behind bars could quickly send the city's bill in the other direction.

The Cashmere City Council reviewed the proposed 2027 contract Aug. 24 ahead of a planned discussion with Chelan County Regional Justice Center officials in September.

Under the proposal, Cashmere would pay $213 per inmate per bed day. The one-year contract represents a departure from the three-year agreement currently in place and from a funding structure that has included a substantial base cost.

City Clerk-Treasurer Elizabeth Martinez reviewed Cashmere's jail expenses from recent years and calculated what the city would have paid if the proposed $213-per-day formula had been in place.

The results varied dramatically.

Cashmere would have paid approximately $5,200 more in 2023 and $30,000 more in 2024. In 2025, however, the city paid approximately $117,000 under its existing contract. Martinez calculated that the same jail usage would have cost about $25,000 under the proposed formula, a savings of roughly $92,000.

Through June of this year, Cashmere had paid approximately $62,000 under the existing agreement. Martinez said the proposed formula would have resulted in a bill of approximately $6,390 over the same period.

The uncertainty comes from how long individual defendants remain in jail.

In 2024, Martinez said three Cashmere inmates accounted for stays of 107, 129 and 168 days. Those three cases substantially increased the city's total number of bed days.

“Three people can really affect our numbers,” Martinez said.

The city is responsible for jail costs associated with misdemeanor offenses, while felony incarceration costs are not billed to Cashmere under the agreement.

The proposed contract also contains a provision that drew pointed questions from council members: If an inmate is being held simultaneously on cases attributable to more than one jurisdiction, each jurisdiction would be charged the full $213 daily rate rather than splitting the cost.

Councilmember John Perry immediately questioned the arrangement.

“Do they give the person two beds?” Perry asked.

“No,” Martinez replied.

“Two meals?” Perry asked.

“Exactly,” Martinez said.

Martinez said city officials raised the same issue during discussions over the proposed agreement. The explanation they received was that the county is testing the new formula for one year and charging each jurisdiction the full rate would help compensate for potential losses under the new system.

“So we get to pay for their mistakes and their beta tests,” Perry said.

“For their tests,” Martinez replied.

The proposal would also make Cashmere responsible for certain hospital and medical expenses associated with its inmates, though Martinez said the city's recent medical costs have been relatively small.

Martinez said the city's ability to negotiate the broader terms appears limited, although she successfully requested one change. The original proposal would have required payment within 20 days before interest was assessed. That deadline was extended to 30 days, allowing the city to process the expense within its normal monthly payment cycle.

Councilmember Jeff Johnson asked whether Cashmere had meaningful leverage if essentially the same contract was being offered to jurisdictions throughout the region.

“Is it fair to say it's kind of like the police contract where we may not like it, but we have no ability to influence it?” Johnson asked.

“Pretty much,” Martinez said.

She said her goal in preparing the historical comparison was to give council members enough information to make an informed decision and explain the contract to residents even if the city's negotiating options are limited.

City officials also noted a change in the county's approach to negotiations. In previous cycles, they said, the contract was largely presented to jurisdictions after its terms had been established. This time, county officials have begun meeting with cities before the agreement is finalized.

The proposed contract would apply only to 2027 while the county evaluates the new billing formula.

Chelan County Regional Justice Center Director Chris Sharp is expected to attend the Cashmere City Council's Sept. 14 meeting to discuss the proposal and answer council members' questions.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media