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Editorial: Juvenile justice upkeep wise use of county sales tax

Tue., April 14, 2015

The Spokane Transit Authority proposal has overshadowed another sales tax issue on the April 28 special election ballot.

Spokane County Proposition 1 – not STA Proposition 1 – calls for the renewal of the 0.1 percent sales tax to finance juvenile detention services.

Voters adopted the tax in 1995 and have renewed it four times since. Each time the measure has gotten at least 60 percent of the vote. We recommend voters renew it again, because the $8.5 million raised annually is needed for essential services. The revenue accounts for 20 percent of the juvenile detention services budget.

This request should not be confused with the looming need for a new jail. The money raised would only be used on juvenile justice matters, such as staff and the maintenance of facilities.

While the crime rate for young people has dropped, the juvenile justice system still faces a large volume of offenders at the front end of the process. As with the rest of the criminal justice system, the county has moved to a data-driven, outcome-based model that seeks to reduce recidivism. The goal is to limit the number of juveniles moving into the adult system.

This means deciding which offenders should be detained because they are a threat to themselves and others. But, crucially, it also means diverting appropriate candidates into alternatives, such as mental health and treatment programs and educational services. Detention is far more expensive and may be less effective in preventing a life of crime.

The sales tax revenue covers about 30 employees, ranging from corrections officers to probation officers to juvenile jail nurses. It also goes toward maintenance costs for facilities. It amounts to a dime for every $100 in retail purchases.

Spokane County began implementing juvenile justice innovations about eight years ago, including a school truancy program that serves as an early identifier of potential criminals. Working with Educational Services District 101, the juvenile justice system ensures that troubled schoolchildren serve out their suspensions but get reattached to schoolwork as soon as possible.

The juvenile justice reforms dovetail with the overall “smart justice” strategy aimed at lowering recidivism and keeping jail costs down. Spokane County has become a model for other counties, so the money raised is being wisely spent.

The Legislature made the local sales-tax option available in 1995. The first assessment carried a three-year sunset provision. Because of continued public approval, the renewal period has been expanded to five years, then seven. The current ballot provision would sunset in 10 years.

If the county were to lose this critical funding source, it would have to cut services that save taxpayers in the long run.

The county has made smart, cost-effective decisions with this revenue. Voters should acknowledge that with another yes vote.