Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF)
ITEM TITLE:
Title
Motion 25-523, approving agreement with the Washington State Office of Public Defense to provide Indigent Defense Improvement Funds to Snohomish County Office of Public Defense for the period from January 1, 2026, to June 30, 2026
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DEPARTMENT: Office of Public Defense
ORIGINATOR: Jason Schwarz
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: Approved by Ken Klein 11/10/25
PURPOSE: To authorize the County Executive to sign the attached Agreement with the Washington State Office of Public Defense to improve the quality of legal representation to indigent defendants according to the terms therein from January 1, 2026 through June 30th, 2026.
BACKGROUND: Snohomish County Office of Public Defense applies for these funds each year to the Washington State Office of Public Defense. The funds are to be used to make indigent defense improvements.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION UPDATED ON 12/8/2025
Snohomish County Office of Public Defense applies for these funds each year to the Washington State Office of Public Defense. By State law, these funds are to be used to make indigent defense improvements. In most recent years, these funds have gone towards covering the increasing cost to the Conflict Panel. In consideration of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the WSBA caseload standards the intent is for these funds to be put towards the County’s contract with the Public Defenders Association to help address the required caseload reduction of 10% in 2026. This motion accepts the grant funds from the state and another motion will be coming to council for consideration in December/January for the 2026 Public Defender Association Contract, which will include the expenditure portion of these funds.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
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EXPEND: FUND, AGY, ORG, ACTY, OBJ, AU |
CURRENT YR |
2ND YR |
1ST 6 YRS |
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Various IAA 26031 |
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TOTAL |
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REVENUE: FUND, AGY, ORG, REV, SOURCE |
CURRENT YR |
2ND YR |
1ST 6 YRS |
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002 3321273833 |
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TOTAL |
882,499.02 |
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DEPARTMENT FISCAL IMPACT NOTES: Click or tap here to enter text.
CONTRACT INFORMATION:
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ORIGINAL |
x |
CONTRACT# |
IAA 26031 |
AMOUNT |
$882,499.02 |
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AMENDMENT |
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CONTRACT# |
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AMOUNT |
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Contract Period
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ORIGINAL |
START |
01/01/2026 |
END |
06/30/2026 |
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AMENDMENT |
START |
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END |
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OTHER DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW/COMMENTS: Reviewed/approved by: Risk Management (Sheila Barker 11/6/25) and Finance (Nathan Kennedy 11/6/25)