County to invest $2 million in new state-of-the-art camera system for detention facilities

We have been having issues keeping the cameras on at the jail. We really need a new system. Because if we lose the cameras at the jail, we have a big problem.”

Assistant County Manager and Budget Manager Robin Campbell

The County Budget Office plans to install a new high-definition camera system in Thurston County's Detention Facilities, worth $2,000,000.  

The old cameras will be replaced with those from the same system in use across the county, aiming to achieve cost savings through standardization and shared resources across multiple locations.

“We have been having issues keeping the cameras on at the jail. We really need a new system. Because if we lose the cameras at the jail, we have a big problem,” according to Assistant County Manager and Budget Manager Robin Campbell during the county’s September 13 budget briefing.

A portion of the budget for this project, approximately $1,000,000, will come from the building reserves. At the same time, the other half will be sourced from various other sources, which may include funds allocated for operational costs.

The Budget Office also plans to allocate a portion of the operational costs of corrections back to the general fund without sacrificing minimum staffing levels in detention facilities.

Permit approval timeframe

The commissioners and the Budget Office discussed the fee analysis that was done about the need to subsidize services that cannot be charged fees at the development counter, such as code development, code compliance, and public inquiries.

These “non-fee chargeable things” were estimated to cost around $1.7 million per year, which could not be recovered through fees; Campbell reported that only $300,000 is currently is being collected to cover the cost.

“What the fee study found is the cost of the services that are recoverable from fees, and the amount of fees are about equal,” Campbell pointed out. “It is the non-fee-chargeable things—code development, code compliance, and front counter service—that are the pieces we do not fine.”

District 2 Commissioner Gary Edwards is considering having the residents pay the fees after they get the permits for the government offices to expedite the transaction on approving it.

“I think we ought to do it with these permits. That will give them an incentive to do something and get it done,” suggested Edwards.

District 1 Commissioner Carolina Mejia, along with Edwards, is planning to expedite the approval of permits within 90 days without waiting until 2025.

“I think the sooner the better. And then, by 2025, we will be a well-oiled machine, and we will be getting our permits in 90 days or less,” stated Mejia.

The commissioners are studying whether to hire additional staff to provide service at the desk for residents or to establish time slots during which staff will address questions. This decision is aimed at expediting the approval of permits submitted by residents and will depend on the foot traffic in government offices.