Our Voice: Splitting more bicounty services an alarming idea

When Benton and Franklin county commissioners recently decided to dissolve their joint operation of the public defender’s office, we hoped it would be an isolated spat.

As it turns out, Benton County sees it as just the start of a complete break with Franklin County.

It’s a bold admission to a strategy we cannot support.

The upsetting news came when Benton County Commissioner Jerome Delvin confirmed that he has been working to find a way legislatively to split the Benton-Franklin Superior Court, which has been operated jointly for more than 65 years.

This is not something the Superior Court judges want, but their opinion apparently does not matter to Benton County.

Delvin contacted Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, and asked him to sponsor a bill to separate the joint Superior Court operation if four of the six Benton and Franklin commissioners agree to the plan.

So far, it appears that all three of the Franklin County Commissioners oppose the idea, which is a relief.

Delvin acknowledged that any legislative proposal on the matter likely would not go anywhere this session, but he is, nonetheless, making a statement and encouraging the conversation.

He called the split over the public defense attorney’s office “a trial” that could lead up to dividing the Superior Court system. But the public defender’s office has only been shared by the two counties since 2007 and Franklin County was in a position to handle its own services.

That’s not the case with Superior Court. Judge Robert Swisher said a bicounty approach makes more efficient use of a judge’s time, and Benton and Franklin counties benefit when they unite to apply for grants, such as the ones that fund the juvenile justice system.

Delvin said he is concerned, however, with the inequity. He believes Franklin County is holding Benton County back financially.

If that is the case, then Benton County commissioners need to come up with hard numbers to prove it. Anecdotes and empty accusations aren’t enough.

Then, if it turns out Benton County truly is providing significantly more support for these joint operations than Franklin County, a new financial structure should be worked out.

Franklin County has repeatedly said it would pay its fair share, but what “fair” is might be up for debate.

If that leads to more turmoil and disagreement, then we suggest the two governing bodies look for a third party to mediate a reasonable financial arrangement.

This story was originally published January 30, 2016 at 11:07 PM with the headline "Our Voice: Splitting more bicounty services an alarming idea."