County court staff urge using supplemental BECCA funds to restore truancy case managers
May 26, 2026 | Spokane County, Washington
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Court representatives briefed commissioners on newly available BECCA supplemental funds and asked the board to accept allocations that would restore truancy case‑management services and related support.
A presenter who spoke for the bench said the Legislature added $3 million in a supplemental budget this session and that statewide BECCA funding for fiscal 2027 is now about $5 million. The county’s share was described as roughly 20% of the statewide total, and staff said they are close to a local allocation estimate but were awaiting formal notification from the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Why it matters: BECCA funding supports direct services to at‑risk youth and schools under state juvenile‑justice provisions. The bench representative said the intended use for the supplemental funds is to rehire two truancy case managers, help fund part of a supervisor position and contract with the Educational Service District for contingency coverage if the Legislature does not continue funding beyond FY27.
County considerations and risks: staff and commissioners discussed potential downstream consequences for other county offices, including public defense and the clerk’s office, if filings or detention hearings change as the program ramps up. The bench representative said the additional money is intended for direct services and that the Legislature tightened spending parameters to favor direct staffing rather than administrative overhead.
Process and timeline: staff said the funds would be available beginning July 1 and would run through June 30, 2027. The judge’s office and juvenile‑court staff were asked to work with budget staff to model impacts on the general fund and to coordinate with impacted departments before formal acceptance and contract execution.
Next steps: the court team will provide detailed funding amounts once AOC confirms the allocation; staff recommended the board consider accepting the grant and discussed ramping hires contingent on legislative continuation of the funding.
A presenter who spoke for the bench said the Legislature added $3 million in a supplemental budget this session and that statewide BECCA funding for fiscal 2027 is now about $5 million. The county’s share was described as roughly 20% of the statewide total, and staff said they are close to a local allocation estimate but were awaiting formal notification from the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Why it matters: BECCA funding supports direct services to at‑risk youth and schools under state juvenile‑justice provisions. The bench representative said the intended use for the supplemental funds is to rehire two truancy case managers, help fund part of a supervisor position and contract with the Educational Service District for contingency coverage if the Legislature does not continue funding beyond FY27.
County considerations and risks: staff and commissioners discussed potential downstream consequences for other county offices, including public defense and the clerk’s office, if filings or detention hearings change as the program ramps up. The bench representative said the additional money is intended for direct services and that the Legislature tightened spending parameters to favor direct staffing rather than administrative overhead.
Process and timeline: staff said the funds would be available beginning July 1 and would run through June 30, 2027. The judge’s office and juvenile‑court staff were asked to work with budget staff to model impacts on the general fund and to coordinate with impacted departments before formal acceptance and contract execution.
Next steps: the court team will provide detailed funding amounts once AOC confirms the allocation; staff recommended the board consider accepting the grant and discussed ramping hires contingent on legislative continuation of the funding.
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