Spokane County commissioners spent the bulk of their Nov. 10 budget session debating proposed changes to detention services, including closure options for portions of the Geiger facility and the possible elimination of several programming components.

County staff presented Option 2 as a baseline: a gross savings number of roughly $3.39 million that would result from facility downsizing and program eliminations. Bryce and other budget staff explained that number represented the expenditure side only and did not fully subtract revenues billed back to other jurisdictions; applying the historically conservative 85% net‑county share would reduce the direct general‑fund impact to about $3.24 million.

Detention leadership outlined two categories of programming at stake: education programming (GED, Breaking Barriers, financial‑literacy and other classes), priced by staff at $174,000 annually for the teacher and associated supplies; and electronic home monitoring (EHM) and related case‑manager positions, which staff estimated at a gross $246,000 in program costs. Don (detention staff) said the teacher program does not require officer supervision and could be restored independently, while EHM includes field components that require officer time.

Commissioners expressed concern about reductions that could increase overtime or weaken reentry supports. “I view that all as reducing recidivism,” one commissioner said in arguing to preserve case‑management and education services. Staff noted EHM generates some revenue (billing to other jurisdictions and equipment fees); removing the program entirely could reduce that revenue, potentially making the net savings smaller than the gross figures suggest.

No formal roll‑call vote was taken Nov. 10; commissioners asked staff to produce a final budget that reflects revenue adjustments, the county share of costs, and a clearer breakout of which program elements would require officer supervision. Several board members signaled support for preserving at least the $174,000 teacher position while pursuing other savings, and asked that detention proposals be revisited before final budget adoption.