COMMISSIONERS LAY OUT THRIFTIER METH BATTLE PLAN

Cowlitz County commissioners Tuesday proposed their own plan to fight the
county's meth epidemic, shearing about $640,000 from a proposal a committee
had made to them two weeks ago.

The commissioners plan also puts proportionately heavier emphasis on law
enforcement and less on treatment, education and prevention than the
earlier plan.

Cuts were necessary, commissioners said, because the $2.9 million plan
submitted by the County Meth Initiative Planning Committee would cost more
than a proposed 0.2 percent sales tax would raise. The tax --- 2 cents on a
$10 purchase -- would raise a projected $2.3 million annually if voters
approve it in September.

Commissioners are proposing a total of $2.26 million in meth programs.

"It's always been the intent that a final plan would come from the
commissioners," Commissioner Jeff Rasmussen said Wednesday. "The plan from
the committee had more expenditures than revenue. This is based on what I
saw, read and heard and what the other commissioners heard and saw."

Commissioners will share the plan with area city councils at a public
meeting Tuesday. Because cities would share in the revenue the new tax
would generate, city officials would have to agree to share their portion
with the county to fund the entire meth plan.

"We want to send a clear message that the plan is truly a working plan and
we will continue to take public response on it," Rasmussen said.

The commissioners' plan would fund $1.07 million for drug enforcement and
"court enhancements" to deal with added drug caseloads, such as
establishing a family dependency court and hiring additional court clerks.

By comparison, the committee plan proposed $1.23 million for increased law
enforcement.

Rasmussen said the commissioners propose combining the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum
Narcotics Task Force and Cowlitz Meth Enforcement Team. It's the best
response to dwindling state money and would add two officers to the
combined force, he said.

The commissioners' plan would put $480,000 into treatment programs, short
of the $640,000 proposed by the committee.

In addition, the commissioners propose $714,000 in prevention and education
programs, down from $1.04 million proposed by the committee.

One of two leaders of the meth committee, County Sheriff Bill Mahoney, was
unavailable for comment Wednesday. The other, Ramona Leber of the Cowlitz
Substance Abuse Coalition, said she wasn't prepared to comment on the
commissioners' proposal "because I've just gotten it and haven't had time
to really analyze it."

Commissioner George Raiter said he's still tweaking the proposal on his
own. For example, he'd like to fund a monitoring system to make sure the
plan is working to reduce drugs and crime.

Commissioner Kathleen Johnson said the commissioners' proposal is a
starting point and that she wants to hear what city officials have to add.

"I think this will get the conversation going," she said.

"This is not a final plan," Rasmussen emphasized. "We still have 11 town
meetings and we want response from the city councils on Tuesday."

The commissioners' draft will be on the county Web site,
www.co.cowlitz.wa.us, and copies also will be available at the
commissioners' office, Cowlitz County Administration Building, 207 North
Fourth Ave., Kelso. For more information, call (360) 577-3020.