Geiger dispute on hold

Geiger Corrections Center inmates will remain locked up while a billing dispute between Spokane city and county officials is resolved.

County leaders made the decision Thursday after a meeting with city officials.

“There was some emotion on both sides. When we sat down it was very cordial,” Geiger Director Leon Long said. “I don’t think it was a win or lose situation. It was coming to an understanding.”

Late last week, Geiger threatened to send city of Spokane inmates to the county jail where they likely would have been released because of overcrowding. The warning came after Spokane refused to pay Geiger’s 2006 daily rates for housing inmates.

On Wednesday, Geiger informed the city that it would keep inmates already locked up but would not accept more. That decision also was rescinded after Thursday’s meeting and city inmates again are being accepted – at least until county commissioners meet Tuesday and review the policy shift.

Geiger has about 125 Spokane inmates convicted or charged with misdemeanor offenses. Those arrested in Spokane for felony crimes are county inmates and were not affected by the dispute.

Geiger, which is operated by Spokane County, raised its daily rates for housing inmates from $41 to $60 effective Jan. 1. However, cities that house inmates there were not told of the increase until after the rates were in place.

“None of the jurisdictions got notified of the new rates as they should have,” Long said.

The county agreed to Spokane’s request to hire a consultant to recommend a daily rate as Geiger has done in previous years. It also agreed to let Spokane continue paying 2005 rates until the consultant’s figure is seen and agreement reached.

After that, Spokane will pay the new rate retroactively to Jan. 1. Spokane already has cut a check based on 2005 rates.

Long said of all the entities that use Geiger, only the county and Airway Heights have paid their first bills of the year in full. Spokane County keeps Geiger money separate from other funds and pays a per-inmate rate like cities do.

“We’ll find out what the real rate is and if they paid more than they should have they’ll probably get a refund,” Long said, regarding the county and Airway Heights.

In 2005, Geiger had a $1.3 million operating deficit and took a $450,000 loan from the county to make payroll in December.

Dorothy Webster, Spokane’s administrative services director, said the increased fee would have resulted in an extra $900,000 spent on Geiger that was not budgeted.

“Normally, we like to get the rate in September so we can build it into the budget for the next year,” Webster said. “Both sides are working hard to get the matter resolved in a manner that’s fair to both entities.”

Meanwhile, an expansion of Geiger Corrections Center to open space for federal prisoners at the county jail is on hold.

County commissioners say they want federal officials to assure them in writing that they won’t pull their inmates from the jail before they’ve paid for the expansion.

“My concern is, are they going to get six months into it and then decide they are pulling out?” said county Commissioner Todd Mielke. “We need to see it in writing.”

Last month, commissioners voted to renovate an old gym at Geiger to create 76 more beds for medium-security inmates currently housed in the Spokane County Jail. Space created at the jail would be taken by federal prisoners, and the Department of Justice would increase the daily fee it pays for each inmate from $68 to $73.

The county would pay up to $1.4 million for construction and Geiger would repay the loan with money it earns by housing county inmates in the remodeled gym over three years.

U.S. Marshal Mike Kline, who serves Eastern Washington, is scheduled to appear in front of county commissioners later this month to discuss financial arrangements for the deal. He could not be reached for comment Friday.