OLYMPIA — A 400-inmate jail built in Tumwater at a cost of $48 million to relieve the overcrowded Thurston County Jail has sat empty since it was finished four years ago.
It costs the county $400,000 a year to maintain the Accountability and Restitution Center, but there are no plans to move in.
There’s a funding dispute between county commissioners and Sheriff John Snaza. Commissioners say they put enough money in the budget to open the jail. Snaza says his overall budget isn’t large enough to absorb the increased costs.
“We’re at a stalemate right now,” said County Commissioner Cathy Wolfe. “An absolute stalemate. Nothing is getting done.”
Snaza is equally frustrated.
“Why wouldn’t I open up something that the taxpayers have been paying for, for so long? It’s because they’re not giving me the funding,” Snaza said.
The current jail, built in 1978, houses 316 inmates and was considered long overdue for replacement.
Snaza is the elected official in charge of the Corrections Department. The commissioners can’t force his hand.
“A move to the ARC can only come with the sheriff’s agreement,” said county Manager Cliff Moore.
To move into the new jail, the sheriff wants another $500,000 in the corrections budget, along with a guarantee from county commissioners that they would cover any extra costs associated with running the new jail.
That promise would be impossible to make, Wolfe said.
Four people work at the empty jail, keeping machines and equipment in working order. Among other things, they go around and flush all the toilets once in a while.
