Commissioners approve new Martin Hall format

Whitman County commissioners Monday morning unanimously approved and signed a 2013 memorandum of understanding and budget for Martin Hall Juvenile Detention Facility in Medical Lake.

Uncertainty about whether Martin Hall would remain open, with Spokane County pulling out last month, was stifled by Whitman County Commissioner Pat O’Neill when he brought the understanding and budget before the commissioners last week. O’Neill represents Whitman County on Martin Hall’s board.

He told commissioners last week that Martin Hall’s board wants it to remain open for one more year, hoping that other users can make up for budget shortfalls. In the meantime, all eight counties agreed to adopt a “pay-as-you-go” policy, based on bed days used by each county.

The new formula replaces a previous plan of committing each county to an assigned slice of the budget based on past use. Since 1996, each county paid for a set number of bed-days per year. Whitman County averaged 2.5 beds per day, or 912.5 beds per year. At $155 per day that totals $141,437.

O’Neill reported last week, if Martin reserves fall from the current $675,000 to $350,000 and stays at that level for two consecutive months, the Martin board will issue a 90-day notice to begin mothballing the center.

The center also will rely on other users to supplement the budget. Although Spokane County pulled out of being an official member, its juvenile offender overflow will go to Martin Hall. The Coeur d’Alene tribe and Yakima also are budgeted for 730 bed days each next year, at a cost of $185 per day ,; $135,050 each per year.

O’Neill told commissioners last week that the Nez Perce tribe’s 10-bed juvenile hall in Lewiston costs almost $500,000 annually to operate, $190 per day, and hopes that hall might close sometime next summer. Those offenders would then go to Martin Hall.

Commissioner Greg Partch again praised O’Neill for his work on the hall’s board.

“It was a lot of hard work, but well worth it,” O’Neill said.

Martin Hall 2013 Revenue Projection

Adams County 730 beds per year, $113,150

Asotin 912.5, $141,437.50

Douglas, 1,825, $282,875

Ferry, 182.5, $28,287.50

Lincoln, 182.5, $28,287.50

Pend O’Reille, 730, $113,150

Stevens, 2,555, $396,025

Whitman, 912.5, $141,437.50

Other users;

Coeur d’Alene, 730 $135,050, Spokane, 730 $135,050, Yakima 730, $135,050