EVERETT — Sheriff Susanna Johnson met with city representatives on Monday following a letter signed by 14 Snohomish County mayors objecting to a proposed jail fee hike that, if approved, would raise costs by more than 130% next year.

This year, whenever a city books an individual into a county jail on non-felony charges, Snohomish County charges a one-time $151.61 booking fee. The county pays for all felony cases.

From 2021 to 2026, the booking fee increased about 3% each year. Under the sheriff’s proposed rate increases, that booking fee would increase to $353.61 in 2027 — a 134% increase — and $369.09 in 2028.

In the recent letter, mayors called attention to the size of the proposal.

“We recognize that the cost of operating the jail has increased and understand your desire for rates that reasonably reflect the cost of providing these services,” the mayors’ letter reads. “However, the magnitude of the proposed increases is unprecedented.”

The letter was signed by the mayors of Arlington, Brier, Darrington, Edmonds, Everett, Gold Bar, Granite Falls, Marysville, Mill Creek, Mukilteo, Snohomish, Stanwood, Sultan and Woodway.

Johnson tried to explain the reasons for the fee increase during Monday’s meeting, but it didn’t alleviate concerns.

“Snohomish County mayors remain concerned about rising jail fees,” Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin said in an email Tuesday. “We recently met with the sheriff to share our concerns. We will be advocating for our cities before the Snohomish County Council.”

In the past, Corrections charged based on other counties’ jail fees and then raised the price each year using a 3% cost-of-living modifier, Johnson said in an interview. To set the proposed rates for 2027-28, they instead calculated the total cost to the county of non-felony cases, she said.

In 2025, Snohomish County billed its partners just over $13.5 million on misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases, according to Courtney O’Keefe, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.

Previous jail rate calculations underestimated costs, O’Keefe said. Also, the 3% modifier used for salary and benefit increases has not kept pace with actual collective bargaining agreements, she said.

The formula used to create these new rates “is a comprehensive review of the costs that the city should have been paying,” Johnson said. “As we are checking in with the jails around the state, there is an interest in our model.”

The mayors’ letter says the Lynnwood and Marysville jails approved 2027 fee increases between 3% and 8%, “which represent a more measured and stable approach,” it reads.

However, Johnson said both Lynnwood and Marysville jails reached out to the county to review its new model.

Booking fees are charged when “someone comes through the door,” Johnson said. It pays for medical checks, both physical and mental, she said.

“There are certain tasks we do. We change them out. We take their picture. There’s a lot of little tasks,” Johnson said.

The Sheriff’s Office also reviewed and proposed a higher housing fee that the county charges per day when non-felony inmates stay overnight. It pays for bedding, clothing, food and medical, among other things, Johnson said.

The proposed rates would hike housing fees from $210.99 in 2026 to $266.71 in 2027 and $271.97 in 2028.

Johnson also proposed an additional daily fee of $32.78 in 2027 and $33.80 in 2028 to help Corrections pay overtime costs.

In 2024, Snohomish County signed a collective bargaining agreement with the Corrections Guild. When staffing is at 175 full-time employees or less, after an employee works an eight-hour overtime shift at 1.5 times normal pay, any additional overtime in a two-week period will pay 2.25 times.

Cities would only pay the overtime fee if that enhanced overtime rate is in effect, Johnson said.

“In the jail, we don’t let them leave the building if their replacement hasn’t come in,” she said. “We’re creating an environment where these families have to spend more time away.”

Overtime is one reason Corrections is projected to spend almost $6 million more than the $134.5 million budgeted to them in 2025-26, according to county spokesperson Kari Bray.

Finally, cities also pay for misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor video court hearings. This year, cities spent $251.12 per hour for video court. The proposed rates would increase the cost to $328.24 in 2027 and $338.41 in 2028, to pay for staff salaries and benefits and equipment support.

“Increases of this size create substantial and unexpected impacts on city budgets,” the mayors’ letter says. “We respectfully ask that the County reconsider the proposed 2027/2028 jail rates and work with its municipal partners to develop a more reasonable approach.”

After the Monday meeting, Mill Creek Mayor Stephanie Vignal also remains concerned, she said in an email Thursday.

“The proposed 130% increase is exceptionally difficult for cities to absorb and ultimately our residents,” she said. “The County Council has the final decision, and I urge its members to carefully evaluate the available information and consider phasing in any necessary increase over the next four years.”

The Snohomish County Council has received the proposed jail fee increases but has not set a time and date to review them, council spokesperson Cassie Fannin said in an email Tuesday.

“I expect this to be added on an agenda within this next week (or soon after),” she said. “While discussion is possible, I cannot predict what those discussions will be nor if there will be amendments.”

Taylor Scott Richmond: 425-339-3046; taylor.richmond@heraldnet.com; Bluesky: @btayokay.bsky.social