JP Coger's Washington County UPdate 7/26/26

My Favorite Quote - Thank You, Judge Beaumont.

👀 Looking Ahead

Although there were no county meetings this week (as of this publication) August begins one of the most important times of the year for county government.

Finance & Budget Committee meetings will begin reviewing the proposed 2027 Washington County budget, where funding priorities, staffing requests, capital projects, and departmental budgets will be discussed.

These meetings often shape county spending long before the final budget comes before the full Quorum Court.

If you are interested in how your tax dollars are spent, August is an excellent time to begin following these meetings. I will keep everyone informed with meeting dates and agendas.

This Week's Key Numbers.

• 👥 Jail Population: 724 inmates, including 357 awaiting trial.

• 📋 New Contracts: $100,036 for conducted energy weapons for SO.

• 👷 Open Positions: 16 county job openings.

• 💰Washington County's total labor costs (2023 - 2025) have increased by $7.6 million, rising from $51.9 million to $59.5 million—a 14.7% increase. 

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TRANSPARENCY CORNER AND FOLLOW THE MONEY

Why Washington County's SCAAP Grant Raises Questions About Cost, Transparency, and Community Impact 

Washington County has again applied for the federal State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) grant. 

Read more about SCAAP HERE.

After reviewing the Sheriff's FY2025 SCAAP application, several aspects of the application deserve closer examination. 

• Approximately 40% of the individuals listed were from the Marshall Islands• Approximately 20% were from Mexico• Approximately 10% were from Honduras• The remainder came from dozens of other countries.

These communities have been an important part of Northwest Arkansas for decades. They are our neighbors, coworkers, classmates, church members, veterans, and friends.  They are mothers, fathers, and children, all wanting a better life here.

See complete breakdown of countries HERE.  For more information, go HERE. I have included the names of the individuals listed in the County's FY2025 SCAAP application, not to embarrass anyone identified in those records, but because these are public records that help illustrate the real people affected by this program. My hope is that by seeing beyond statistics, our elected officials—and the public—will carefully consider whether Washington County should continue participating in SCAAP.

In my view, the SCAAP program creates a financial incentive for local governments to participate in a federal immigration enforcement program that can separate families, undermine trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, and make our community less welcoming.

The program reimburses local governments for certain costs associated with incarcerating some undocumented immigrants.

Washington County's FY2024 application illustrates just how limited that reimbursement can be.

FY2024 SCAAP Application
Inmate records submitted	259
Correctional officer salaries reported	$10.8 million
Inmate days reported	276,597
Federal award received	$109,455

What That Equals.

• 259 inmate records

• $10.8 million in correctional officer salary expenditures

• 276,597 inmate days

• and ultimately received a federal award of $109,455.

In other words, for every $100 Washington County reported spending on correctional officer salaries, the County recovered about $1 through SCAAP.

Whether you support or oppose the SCAAP program, I encourage you to review the County's application and supporting documents for yourself. An informed public is essential to transparent government. If you have concerns, contact Sheriff Jay Cantrell and your Justice of the Peace and ask questions about the County's continued participation in the program. 

Contact Information for Sheriff, JPs, Etal HERE.

You can check your voter registration HERE and it will tell you in which JP District you reside. (That information will be bottom of the page)

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Order No. 2026-094 - $100,036.14 Phazzer, LLC - New Equipment at Washington County Sheriff’s Office. According to its website,  PhaZZer US, is “the premier open-infrastructure provider of less-lethal Conducted Energy Weapons (CEWs) engineered for modern law enforcement…” 

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Contract 2024-165a Certificate of Substantial Completion - Although the project reached substantial completion on January 5, 2026, the Certificate of Substantial Completion was dated March 26, 2026, and was not recorded in the County Clerk's Office until July 22, 2026. More timely filing of public records would improve transparency and allow residents to better monitor county projects. Note:  This is the remodel of the interior of the Sheriff’s Office - bullet proof glass and more - NOT the Covid Mitigation Project.

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Another lawsuit alleging violations of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act has been filed involving Washington County. In the case of Damon Charles Sanford v. Roger Morris, the circuit court entered a final order on July 24, 2025, finding a violation of the Arkansas FOIA and awarding the plaintiff $170 in costs. 

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County Labor Costs Continue to Rise (Spreadsheet HERE)

COVID significantly affected staffing, overtime, and benefit costs in 2020–2022, so to be fair, I am only using 2023, 2024 and 2025 because I think that provides a better picture of the County's current spending trend during this administration. (There were millions of dollars of federal funds during Covid for salaries, overtime, etc.)

Here are the numbers:

Three-Year Trend (2023–2025)    

Over the three-year period from 2023 through 2025, Washington County's total labor costs increased by $7.6 million, rising from $51.9 million to $59.5 million—a 14.7% increase. 

• This represents a 14.65% increase from 2023 to 2025.

• 2024 increased by $3.18 million (6.12%) over 2023.

• 2025 increased by $4.43 million (8.04%) over 2024.

• See All Washington County Salaries 2021 - 2025 HERE.

  
  

Personnel costs are recurring obligations. Once positions are added, taxpayers generally assume the ongoing costs of salaries, retirement, payroll taxes, health insurance, and other benefits for years to come. As budget discussions begin, these continuing labor costs will remain one of the County's largest financial commitments.

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📊 Washington County Jail Data Dashboard

⚖️ Detention Center Data.  Read the most recent Inmate Population Analysis HERE.

Snapshot Date:  July 24, 2026

1. Individuals Incarcerated in WCDC: 724

2. Homeless/Unsheltered:    66 

3. White Males:  342

4. Black Males:  126

5. Male (Other):  156

6. White Females:    80

7. Black Females:    10

8. Female (Other):    10

9. Average age of All Inmates:    38

10. Average Days in Jail:    182

    
    

Read the Detainee Summary HERE.

One significant contributor to the jail population is the number of individuals awaiting trial.  357 of the people incarcerated in Washington County Detention Center as of 7/24/26 are pre-trial.  This means they have been arrested and/or charged, but they have not been found guilty.  If they had the financial resources to post bond, many could obtain their release while awaiting trial.

These numbers reinforce my longstanding support for meaningful pretrial services (which differ from the County's Community Rebuilding Initiative) and for re-establishing a Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee to examine system-wide solutions.  Read the 2020 Criminal Justice Assessment Study HERE.

🔎 Public Data Resources

Detailed reports are available here:

Detainee Charge Report:https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-f-z/sheriff/detention-information/detainee-charge-report

• You can check the “Calls for Service” board here.  

• Here’s a list in alphabetical order to search for people.

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🧾 County Bid Postings (as of 07/24/26): None 

The following notice is posted on the county’s website under Purchasing:

You can view all closed bids here.  View all RFQs and bids [here].  

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🧑‍💼Here are the Washington County Job Openings as of 07/24/26.  Click on any link below to start the application process.  

Washington County is currently advertising 16 employment opportunities across multiple departments. Several positions were added this week. 

Job	Type	Application Deadline	Salary
Operator IV- Roads 0200470	Full Time	07/31/2026 4:30 PM	$21.25-$23.42
Parts Manager- Roads 0200808	Full Time	07/31/2026 4:30 PM	$30.70-$33.84
Administrative Assistant - Prosecuting Attorney (0416012)	Full Time	07/25/2026 4:30 PM	$18.61 - $20.51
Adult Detention Officer (4784030)	Full Time	Open Until Filled	$21.91 / HR
Deputy First Class - Patrol (Must currently be a Certified Law Enforcement Officer) (4784031)	Full Time	Open Until Filled	24.38 - 26.86/hr
Election Poll Worker	Temporary	Open Until Filled	14/Hr
Janitorial Person- B & G 0108105	Full Time	Open Until Filled	$16 - $17.62
Juvenile Detention Officer (0444035)	Full Time	Open Until Filled	$21.25 - $23.42/hr
Juvenile Intake Officer - Division VIII (0408.018)	Full Time	Open Until Filled	$23.71 - $26.13hr
Juvenile Probation Officer - Division III (0403.013)	Full Time	Open Until Filled	$21.91 - $24.14
Kennel Supervisor Animal Shelter 0308005	Full Time	Open Until Filled	19.95-21.98
Mechanic I-Road 0200311	Full Time	07/31/2026 4:30 PM	$24.38-$26.86
Operator I- Roads 0200456	Full Time	07/31/2026 4:30 PM	$18.61-$20.51
Operator II- Road 0200433	Full Time	08/09/2026 4:30 PM	$19.95-$21.98
Team Lead Officer - Probation (0408.013)	Full Time	Open Until Filled	$58,697.60 - $64,708.80
Youth Development Supervisor 0444020	Full Time	Open Until Filled	$21.91 - $24.14/hr

View and apply for job openings HERE. Please share this list! ___________________________________________________________

Thank you for taking the time to stay informed about the Washington County government. Transparency only works when citizens are engaged. If you found this newsletter helpful, please consider sharing it with your neighbors, friends, and family so they can stay informed as well. 

— Beth Coger

Justice of the Peace, District 9

Washington County Quorum Court