JP Coger's Washington County UPdate 8/2/26
- Beth Coger
- Aug 2
- 7 min read
Welcome to this week's Washington County Update! This edition includes County Services agenda highlights, new jail and juvenile detention statistics, county employment opportunities, labor cost trends, and several items to watch in the coming weeks.
_________________________________________________________________
🌟 Professional Development
I am honored to have been selected to participate in the Central Community Development Institute at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. This year, I completed the first year of the Institute's three-year leadership program.
The experience provided valuable insight into the relationship between community development and economic development and how strong communities are built through collaboration, thoughtful planning, and public engagement.
One of the program's central themes was the importance of bringing everyone to the table, listening to diverse perspectives, and ensuring that decisions are made through an open and transparent process. That is how you get community investment and buy-in.
________________________________
👀 Looking Ahead
Washington County Quorum Court County Services Meeting is Monday, 8/3/26 at 6:00 PM. More on this below, including agenda and talking points.
Washington County Quorum Court Finance & Budget Meeting is Monday, 8/10/26 at 6:00 PM. More on that next week. It is on a Monday this month because several JPs will be attending the Arkansas Association of Counties Conference in Hot Springs beginning 8/11/26.
Washington County Planning Board Meeting is Thursday, 8/13/26 at 5:00 PM. Remember last meeting was not able to be held due to lack of quorum.
____________________________________________________________
📊 Key Numbers This Week
18 county job openings.
748 inmates housed in the Washington County Detention Center 7/31/26
💲$10.87 Million (Estimated) – Estimated cost of housing the inmates who were in custody on July 31, based on their combined 134,946 reported inmate days and the Arkansas Legislative Audit's 2024 average cost of $80.52 per inmate per day. The 134,946 figure is not the number of jail bed days the County incurred during 2026. It is the combined number of days already served by the inmates who were in custody on July 31, 2026.
10.32 average daily juvenile detention population in July.
2,578 Sheriff's Office calls for service during the latest reporting period.
12.6% increase in calls for service over last year.
6,336 year-to-date jail bookings.
3 years – Leadership program at the Central Community Development Institute; I recently completed Year 1.
___________________________________________________________
TRANSPARENCY CORNER AND FOLLOW THE MONEY
A Note About This Analysis: Last week's newsletter focused on labor costs from 2023–2025 because I thought those years would provide the clearest picture of recent spending trends after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, this week, I have expanded the analysis to include 2021–2025 so readers can see the complete yearly trend. While the pandemic affected county operations and staffing in 2021 (and of course prior year), those expenditures are nevertheless part of the County's financial history. I believe it is important to present the complete picture and allow readers to draw their own conclusions.
Washington County’s total labor costs increased from $43.5 million in 2021 to nearly $59.5 million in 2025—an increase of nearly $16 million, or 36.7%, in just four years.
The largest single-year increase occurred in 2023, when costs rose by more than $6 million, or 13.1%.
Full-time salaries have been the principal driver, increasing by approximately $14.5 million since 2021. Even after several years of growth, labor costs rose another $4.4 million, or 8%, between 2024 and 2025. See the entire spreadsheet HERE.
________________________________________________________________
2. Multicraft Contractors July Payment - $305,346.66 - Washington County has approved the final payment of $305,346.66 to Multi-Craft Contractors for the HVAC portion of the Covid Mitigation Project. The original contract was $1,345,283, but change orders increased the contract by $62,787, bringing the final cost to $1,408,070—an increase of approximately 4.7%.
According to the payment application, the HVAC work is now 100% complete, with $68,136.10 retained until final closeout.
While this individual contract experienced a relatively modest 4.7% increase, readers may recall that other Covid Mitigation Project contracts approved this year and in prior years have seen substantially larger change orders. As the project nears completion, I will continue tracking the final cost of the entire project and comparing it to the amounts originally approved.
________________________________________________________________
3. Judge Durrett, 6th Division, has set a hearing in the case of Neil Mehta v. Washington County, Jay Cantrell Etal 72CV-26-3011 for 8/13/26 at 10:30 a.m. See Notice HERE. This hearing will be open to the public for anyone who desires to attend.
This is another Arkansas Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against Washington County (this case is related to alleged FOIA issues at the Sheriff’s Office): Read the very detailed Complaint HERE. See Washington County’s Answer HERE. Mr. Mehta filed his Renewed Motion and Brief for Expedited Hearing HERE. Mr. Mehta states in his Complaint that he is not incarcerated and that he resides in Fort Smith, Sebastian County
__________________________________________________________________
WASHINGTON COUNTY MEETINGS WEEK OF 8/2/26 (As of time of publication)
📅 Washington County Quorum Court County Services Committee Meeting is Monday, 8/3/26 at 6:00 PM. This meeting will be live-streamed on the County’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/washcoar
Read Agenda HERE.
At the conclusion of the meeting, after all decisions have been made, there will be a twelve-minute public comment period with a three-minute limit for each individual to comment on items on the agenda or other items.
Agenda Items Include:
The Washington County Juvenile Detention Center reported an average daily population of 10.32 juveniles during the July reporting period (July 1–28), with 19 admissions, 418 total detention days, and 8 transports, all of them local. Note: Although the calendar on one page of the report shows zero population for July 29–31, those dates fall outside the reporting period because the report was prepared in time for the agenda.
Admissions: 19, down from 21 last July (9.5% decrease).
Detention days: 418, up from 343 (21.9% increase).
Average daily population: 10.32, up from 8.40 in June (about a 22.9% increase).
Average length of stay: 14.43 days, down from 20.56 days last July.
.Despite slightly fewer juvenile admissions than last July, juveniles spent nearly 22% more total days in detention during the July reporting period, and the average daily population increased nearly 23% from June.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office reported 2,578 calls for service during the past month, an increase of 288 calls (12.6%) over the same period last year. Detention Center intakes increased to 974, up from 929 last year (4.8% increase).
The jail's average daily high population also increased, rising from 742 to 752 inmates (1.3% increase).
The makeup of the jail population, however, has shifted considerably. The average number of state prisoners housed in the jail increased from 145 to 219, an increase of 74 inmates (51.0%). The average number of federal prisoners also increased from 91 to 96 (5.5% increase).
Our jail is housing substantially more state prisoners than it did a year ago, keeping the overall jail population at historically high levels. Could at least a portion of this be related to the closing of the Department of Corrections Community Correction Center for Women?
Note: This report ends 7/16/2026. Below I have the updated numbers as of 7/31/26 - so some differences.
3. Jessica Bennett, Human Resource Director, will give a “Human Resources Presentation.” Unfortunately, that was not included in our agenda packet.
__________________________________________________________________
📊 Washington County Jail Data Dashboard
⚖️ Detention Center Data. Read the most recent Inmate Population Analysis HERE.
Washington County Jail Population Snapshot
The average inmate is 37 years old, has spent an average of 181 days in jail, and faces an average bond of $62,054. Collectively, inmates have accumulated 134,946 jail days, with total bonds exceeding $46.1 million.
The Sheriff's Office also reported 544 inmates (73.2%) have previously been incarcerated, and there were 83 foreign-born inmates in custody as of 7/31/26.
Read the Detainee Summary HERE.
As of 8:25 a.m. on July 31, the Washington County Detention Center reported a high count of 748 inmates, including 115 women. The jail housed 206 state prisoners, 92 federal prisoners, 371 pretrial detainees, and 30 county commitments. The Sheriff's Office also reported 6,336 bookings year-to-date, with the average inmate having 6.87 prior bookings.
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
You can check the “Calls for Service” board here.
Here’s a list in alphabetical order to search for people.
__________________________________________________________
🧾 County Bid Postings (as of 08/02/26):
Bid 2026-17 - Emergency Management Fleet - This bid includes Vehicle Transport; Vehicles; Cars; SUVs; Recreational Vehicles; Utility Vehicles; Automobiles (cars and trucks) and Pick-up Trucks. This bid was posted 7/31/26. Bids are due 8/17/26 at 4:00 PM. Opening Date is 8/18/26 - no time given. Questions must be submitted by 8/10/26 - no time given.
___________________________________________________________
🧑💼Here are the Washington County Job Openings as of 08/01/26. Click on any blue link in the chart below to start the application process.
Washington County is currently hiring for 18 positions across a wide range of departments, including the Sheriff's Office, Roads Department, Juvenile Court, Animal Shelter, Buildings & Grounds, Assessor's Office, Elections, and 911 Communications. Opportunities range from entry-level positions to experienced law enforcement and supervisory roles.
Several positions are available immediately and will remain open until filled, including 911 Communications Specialist ($23.71/hour), Juvenile Intake Officer ($23.71–$26.13/hour), Deputy First Class–Patrol ($24.38–$26.86/hour), Adult Detention Officer ($21.91/hour), Juvenile Probation Officer ($21.91–$24.14/hour), Team Lead Officer–Probation ($58,697–$64,709 annually), and Kennel Supervisor ($19.95–$21.98/hour). The Roads Department is also seeking multiple equipment operators and a mechanic, with application deadlines in mid-August.
Jobj | |||
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $23.71 / HR | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.91 / HR | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $17.29 - $19.05 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | 24.38 - 26.86/hr | |
Temporary | Open Until Filled | 14/Hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $16 - $17.62 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $23.71 - $26.13hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.91 - $24.14 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | 19.95-21.98 | |
Full Time | 08/14/2026 4:30 PM | $24.38-$26.86 | |
Full Time | 08/14/2026 4:30 PM | $18.61-$20.51 | |
Full Time | 08/09/2026 4:30 PM | $19.95-$21.98 | |
Full Time | 08/14/2026 4:30 PM | $19.95-$21.98 | |
Full Time | 08/14/2026 4:30 PM | $20.58-$22.68 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $58,697.60 - $64,708.80 |
View and apply for job openings HERE. Please share these opportunities with anyone who may be interested.
___________________________________________________________
Good government depends on an informed and engaged community. Thank you for taking the time to stay informed about the Washington County government. If you found this newsletter helpful, please consider sharing it with your neighbors, friends, and family.
— Beth Coger
Justice of the Peace, District 9
Washington County Quorum Court
Comments