City of Wenatchee Presses Concern Over Jail Use Contract

The city of Wenatchee is in continuous dialogue with Chelan County over the contract for jail use of the Chelan County Regional Jail. According to Mayor Frank Kuntz, there are several elements that caused the hesitation for the contract.

"There's the overall amount," said Mayor Kuntz. "Based on calculations we've did, we would be willing somewhere along $1.3 million to house inmates."

The county is looking closer at $1.7 to $1.8 million. According to Mayor Kuntz, the county's budget is $9.6 million to run the jail and Wenatchee is behind 14% of the inmates. The city offered to pay for 14% of the jail's costs.

"They want to do it based on bookings. When you do it based on booking, we end up booking felonies and felonies under state law are the county's responsibilities, not the city's," said Kuntz. "We feel that when you do it based on bookings, you're putting the cost of felonies on the city taxpayers and that's not where it belongs."

The commissioners had responded to the city's initial hesitation to the contract here.