Interlocal agreement between City and County in question

DAYTON–While details of an interlocal agreement (ILA) are being discussed, Columbia County will discontinue providing non-contracted services to the City of Dayton in Law Enforcement, Emergency Management and Dispatch, effective July 1, 2020. Affected services include non-criminal and non-emergency calls such as dog bites, loose dogs, abandoned vehicles and city code violations.

There will be no interruption to criminal complaints, active criminal calls or emergency response.

This discontinuation of ILA services is in response to County budget shortfalls and a City of Dayton contracted fee schedule which has not been re-evaluated and updated in several years.

In an ILA proposal sent to the City, the County is asking that the City pay 45% of Columbia County annual law enforcement budget, 35% of the annual dispatch cost and 35% of the district court annual allowance.

After reviewing the County’s proposal, the City’s attorney Menke Jackson Beyer, LLP, then requested additional information defining the terms of the County’s proposal, specifically expounding on what exactly is the City’s share; the County’s share; and external sources of funding.

County negotiator Lance King, attorney, responded in a letter sent by mail, providing the analysis for the proposal which included the expectation of a written counter proposal, to the City’s attorney, dated June 4, 2020.

King has since spoke with the City’s attorney, Menke Jackson Beyer, who requested budget managers from the City and the County meet to further discuss the County’s budget.

It is anticipated the County and the City will formulate a new agreement contracting for services in the near future.