Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8c
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
October 24, 2023
DATE: October 5, 2023
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Thomas Bailey, Police Commander
SUBJECT: SCORE Public Safety Funding 2023-2026
Amount of this request:
$4,497,000
Original interlocal agreement estimated cost:
$2,000,000
Revised total cost estimate:
$6,497,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for additional funds in the amount of $4,497,000 for services
provided by South Correctional Entity (SCORE) in conjunction with the SCORE Interlocal
Agreement for Inmate Housing with the Port
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In October of 2021, the Commission approved the 2021-2026 Interlocal Agreement South
Correctional Entity (SCORE) and the Port of Seattle for Jail Services. The estimated total project
cost for the five-year ILA was $2,000,000. Jail costs have escalated beyond our original projections
due to increases in jail costs and bookings. We are projecting we will exhaust the original
$2,000,000 before the end of 2023. Therefore, we need additional funds to continue to receive
jail services.
We are forecasting jail costs for the remainder of 2023 to exceed our original authorization by
$177,000, and we are estimating annual expenses in 2024, 2025, and 2026 at $1,440,000 per
year. While the average monthly costs are $120,000, we have spent over $200,000 in a month
(March 2023.) We are therefore requesting the Commission authorize an additional $4,497,000
that is necessary if we are to continue our current enforcement and booking practices through
the remainder of this ILA, which expires in October 2026.
JUSTIFICATION
In October of 2021, the Commission approved the 2021-2026 Interlocal Agreement between
SCORE and the Port of Seattle for Jail Services. This was due to booking restrictions in King County
which severely impacted the Port’s ability to keep SEA safe. The estimated total project cost for
the five-year ILA, beginning October 2021, and ending October 2026, was $2,000,000. This
amount was insufficient as passenger loads continue to fully recover from the pandemic
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8c Page 2 of 6
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
slowdowns, there is increased criminal activity in King County, and jail costs continue to rise each
year.
During the term of this ILA, bookings have as follows:
Daily Housing Rates (original)
2021
General Population – Guaranteed
Beds No. of Beds: 2
$128.00
General Population – Non-
Guaranteed Beds
$184.00
Daily Rate Surcharges:
Mental Health – Residential Beds
$159.00
Medical – Acute Beds
$217.00
Mental Health – Acute Beds
$278.00
Booking Fee
$35.00
Transport/ security fee
$65.00
Additionally, arrestees booked into SCORE are held until their initial appearance, thus preventing
them from immediately returning to the airport, as we often experienced. Additionally, many
individuals we book into SCORE must also be held in an individual cell due to their threat to other
prisoners and receive mental health and medical care, which increases the costs.
As a result of the increased bookings, we have spent approximately $1.7 million of the $2 million
we requested for the original ILA with SCORE.
When the SCORE ILA was approved in 2021, the POSPD compared cost and feasibility to King
County Jail, and other local facilities. To recap the benefits of SCORE, we highlighted the
following:
To explore improvements in efficiency as well as cost savings, the Port of Seattle Police
requested a proposed ILA from the South Correctional Entity (SCORE). SCORE is located
approximately 3.5 miles south of SeaTac Airport, in Des Moines Washington, and is the
primary booking entity for most South King County law enforcement agencies. In addition
to much closer proximity and efficiency, usage of SCORE represents a potential cost
savings to the Port of Seattle as shown in Table 1.
Table 1: King County Jail versus SCORE daily cost comparison
COST
KING COUNTY
SCORE
BOOKING
212.78
128.00 (GUARANTEED BED)
184.00 (NON-GUARANTEED)
MAINTENANCE
(DAILY FEE)
202.75
INFIRMARY
320.73
217.00
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8c Page 3 of 6
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
In-facility care
included
Co-payments
Inmate responsibility
Outside medical svcs
Contract agency billed
Emergency care
Contract agency billed
Pharmaceuticals
Meds billed to contract
agency
PSYCH/
MENTAL
HEALTH
339.88
159.00 (RESIDENTIAL)
278.00 (ACUTE)
PSYCH OTHER
92.81 (KC ONLY)
WORK
RELEASE
149.82
The current ILA between the Port of Seattle and King County Jail expires in 2020, and the Police
Department will seek to renew that agreement (in conjunction with the SCORE ILA) to provide
more efficient booking options for our waterfront officers.
Approval of the SCORE ILA will improve efficiency and potentially provide cost savings to the
Police Department.
The other facilities we considered were not feasible due to their location, lack of capacity, and
conditions.
In 2022, our total booking costs were $668,315.79 (an average of 55,692.98/month). In 2023,
from January to June, our costs due to increased bookings were $789,392.55 (average
131,565/month.)
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8c Page 4 of 6
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
2022 SCORE Booking Stats
2023 SCORE Booking Stats
Comparing similar time periods, it is clear there has been a sharp increase in bookings. Of the 409
bookings so far in 2023, approximately 73% were charged with Criminal Trespassing. The
remainder were booked on warrants and other charges.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8c Page 5 of 6
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
With the benefit of nearly two years of booking data for SCORE, we believe we should estimate
approximately $1,440,000 in jail expenses per year, or $120,000 per month. While we will
continue to seek solutions besides booking for individuals in our jurisdiction, we must maintain
the ability to book individuals into SCORE when there are no other alternatives.
The Port of Seattle’s mission and agenda include maintaining a safe gateway for travelers coming
through the airport and seaport. Unfortunately, that requires, at times, that when a crime is
committed, we arrest and book persons into SCORE. As stated above, the number of arrests and
fees have increased. While it is difficult to determine the number of people we will book in any
given year, we have no reason to suspect that the cost will decrease.
We have spent approximately $1,149,392 this year. By year-end, we can expect to exceed our
original allocation of $2 million by $177,000. Therefore, we need additional funds to continue to
receive jail services.
With thirty-nine months remaining on the SCORE ILA, we are requesting an additional
$4,497,000.
DETAILS
Scope of Work
If the authorization is granted, jail services will continue under the current ILA without
interruption.
A new ILA between SCORE and the Port of Seattle will be proposed in 2026 for jail services for
the proceeding years.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Another alternative is to arrest and book fewer persons. Officers currently screen each arrest to
determine if there are alternatives to booking and will continue to do so unless funding is not
approved. With rises in crime in King County, however, this is likely not feasible.
This is not the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary
Capital
Expense
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate
$0
$2,000,000
$2,000,000
Current change
0
$4,497,000
$4,497,000
Revised estimate
0
$6,497,000
$6,497,000
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8c Page 6 of 6
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations
0
2,000,000
2,000,000
Current request for authorization
0
4,497,000
4,497,000
Total authorizations, including this request
0
6,497,000
6,497,000
Remaining amount to be authorized
$0
$4,497,000
$4,497,000
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
The Police Department budgets for jail services each year. It originally budgeted $2,000,000 for
the five-year SCORE ILA. In 2024, the SCORE budget has been increased to $1,350,000. If
additional costs are accrued, the department will absorb the increase.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Interlocal Agreement Between SCORE and the Port of Seattle for Jail Services
(2) 2024 Rates and Housing Agreement Amendment
(3) Amendment Notice Letter
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
October 12, 2021 – The Commission authorized a five-year interlocal agreement with SCORE for
jail services. The total cost for this agreement was approximately $2,000,000