HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORKSHOP re: Service Requirements for Counties JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Josh D.Peters,County Administrator
Judy F. Shepherd,Finance Director
DATE: February 9,2025
SUBJECT: WORKSHOP re: Service Requirements for Counties
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The Board has expressed interest in understanding what services counties, as subdivisions of the state, are
required by law to provide. The attached table from the Municipal Research and Services Center of
Washington (MRSC)represents a high-level exposition.
ANALYSIS:
A review of Jefferson County services is part of the financial planning project that the Finance Director will
lead during the first part of 2026 in preparation for the 2027 budget process. A clear list of statutory
obligations will assist decision-makers with budget prioritization. This general MRSC list is a good starting
point for that analysis.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Considering the county's fiscal challenges, those county activities that are not service requirements will need
to be evaluated during financial planning and budget processes with respect to anticipated revenues and
expenditures.
RECOMMENDATION:
Examine the information and ask questions. Direct staff, as applicable.
REVIEWED BY:
0;• Jics;l� 2/5/2026
Jos D. Peters, County Administrator [date
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Email message from the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC)
Subject: Service Requirements for Counties
From: Eric J. Lowell <elowell@mrsc.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 4:06 PM
To:Judy F. Shepherd <JFShepherd@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: Service Requirements for Counties
ALERT: BE CAUTIOU This email originated outside the organization. Do not open
attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Judy,
Good afternoon. Thank you for your inquiry regarding what a county is statutorily
required to do regarding general fund activities. MRSC does not have an official
comprehensive list of such items. MRSC's County Commissioner Guide includes a
chart with various services counties may provide. The chart was created from an
overview of county services developed by WSAC. Not all these services are required.
While MRSC cannot provide a comprehensive list, here is a chart which shows
services that counties are required to provide by the state constitution or state statute:
Service Mandate LevelKey
Category Authority
"Each county, city, and town is
responsible for the prosecution,
Criminal RCW adjudication, sentencing, and
Required incarceration of misdemeanor and
Justice gross misdemeanor offenses
committed by adults in their respective
jurisdictions..."
Prosecution Required Ch. ,6.27
RCW
Public Ch. 10.101 "Each country or city...shall adopt
Defense Required RCW standards for the delivery of public
defense...."
"There shall be in each of the
Superior Required Const. \rt. 4 organized counties of this state a
Courtsuperior court for which at least one
judge shall be elected..."
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Service Key
Category Mandate Level Authority
District Required Ch. 3.,O
Court RCW
Jail costs Required Ch. 70. l
RCW
Juvenile RCW "Juvenile court shall be a division of
Detention Required I () 021 the superior court"
Law Ch. : 6>.2S
Required
Enforcement RCW
Sheriff Required Const.
11
"we conclude that the sheriff has a
duty to enforce state law in both
incorporated and unincorporated areas
of the county. To the extent that a
particular city's police department is
Law unable to provide adequate police
enforcement Required \(rO I901) protection, the sheriffs office has a
No 4 duty to allocate its resources
cities accordingly. However, the sheriff is not
obligated by statute to provide cities
with a specific number of officers, or a
specific level of services. Should a
city wish to obtain such specific
protection, it may do so by contract."
Property/Tax Required Various
Admin
Assessor Required Ch. ).21
RCW
Treasurer Required Ch. Ei.'t?
RCW
Auditor Required Ch' '{'
RCW
"The county auditor of each county
shall be ex officio the supervisor of all
primaries and elections, general or
special, and it shall be the county
Ch. '�a- .� auditor's duty to provide places for
Elections Required RCW holding such primaries and elections;
to provide the supplies and materials
necessary for the conduct of elections;
and to publish and post notices of
calling such primaries and elections in
the manner provided by law."
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Service Key
Category Mandate Level Authority
"All expenses incurred by the state,
health district, or county in carrying
out the provisions of
chapters 70.05 and 70.46 RCW or any
Public Required RCW other public health law, or the rules of
Health (funding) 70.05.1 30 the department of health enacted under
such laws,shall be paid by the county
and such expenses shall constitute a
claim against the general fund as
provided in this section."
"All of the county roads in each of the
several counties shall be established,
laid out, constructed, altered, repaired,
improved, and maintained by the
Roads Required RCW legislative authority of the respective
(unincorporated)36.75.020 counties as agents of the state, or by
private individuals or corporations who
are allowed to perform such work
under an agreement with the county
legislative authority.
Land Use Required (GMA Ch. 36.70A
(GMA) counties) RCW
Let me know if you have further questions concerning this inquiry.
Regards,
Eric Lowell
Finance Consultant
206.625.1300 x105
MRSC Empowering local governments
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