HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOW 2026-04-27 Item 4C - Budget - Additional Court Operations Specialist & BailiffCity of Tukwila
Thomas McLeod, Mayor
Marty Wine, City Administrator
AGENDA BILL
ITEM NO.
4.C.
Agenda Item Request Additional Employees for Municipal Court
Sponsor Valerie Marino, Deputy Judicial Branch Administrator
Legislative History April 13, 2026 Finance & Governance Committee
April 27, 2026 Committee of the Whole
May 4, 2026 Regular Meeting
Recommended Motion ❑ Discussion Only ❑x Action Requested
MOVE TO authorize the addition of a Court Operations Specialist-
Baitiff and a Court Operations Specialist positions to the Judicial
Branch.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Tukwila Municipal Court is requesting a budget amendment to support essential staffing
adjustments within the Judicial Branch. Sustained increases in caseload filings, expanding
legislative mandates, and heightened law enforcement activity have pushed current staffing to
its limits. To maintain timely, effective, and compliant court operations, it is now critical to
increase staffing levels, including converting the judge's position to full-time. This adjustment is
not optional, it is necessary to ensure the court can meet its statutory obligations, protect
public safety, and continue delivering reliable service to the community.
DISCUSSION
The City of Tukwila's commitment to ensuring public safety for its citizens, businesses and
visitors is supported largely by the Tukwila Police Department. For the first time in several
years the Police Department has reached full staffing levels, resulting in a measurable
increase in proactive enforcement activity. While this is good news for the city, it is important to
recognize the rippling impact of this increased enforcement coupled with legislative changes.
Case filings at the court have significantly increased by 161% in the last year, with an overall
increase of 279% in the last five years. The court is experiencing higher caseloads, including
park speed zone photo enforcement tickets, search warrants, parking citations, traffic
infractions, criminal violations, and school zone photo enforcement tickets.
Legislative changes in recent years have introduced significant new demands on courts,
stretching already limited resources and increasing the complexity of daily operations. For
instance, extended jurisdiction for DUI cases and expanded responsibilities in domestic
violence matters have dramatically increased administrative workload. A decade ago, DUI
jurisdiction lasted two years; today, courts must manage these cases for five years. This longer
timeline requires substantially more hearings, more party notifications, more case monitoring,
46
and far greater information exchange with partners such as the Washington State Patrol and
the Washington State Department of Licensing.
These added responsibilities are not simply procedural, they directly affect staffing capacity,
timely case processing, and the court's ability to meet statutory obligations. Without
corresponding support and resources, courts are being asked to do significantly more with the
same —or fewer —tools. Strengthening court capacity is essential to ensure that legislative
changes achieve their intended public -safety goals without overwhelming the justice system
tasked with implementing them.
Over the past decade, legislative changes surrounding domestic violence offenses have
significantly increased the administrative workload for courts. What once required only two
forms has expanded to 14 distinct documents that must be completed for each
domestic -violence -related hearing. These mandates now demand rapid turnaround times,
close coordination with local law enforcement record units, and ongoing monitoring to ensure
timely return and processing of all required paperwork.
Court dockets are consistently full, court dates are being set further out, and administrative
workload has expanded beyond current staffing capacity. Hearings held have increased 19%
since last year and 32% in the last 5 years.
The current limited clerical staffing can no longer keep pace with the Court's growing caseload.
The additional staffing will enable the court to:
• Increase availability for court sessions
• Prevent case backlogs and scheduling delays
• Support faster adjudication of citations and violations
• Improve service to residents, law enforcement, and community partners
Adding a Court Operations Specialist —Bailiff (in -court clerk) position is equally critical. This role
ensures accurate recordkeeping, efficient case processing, and smooth courtroom
operations —functions that directly affect compliance, public safety, and operational integrity.
Likewise, staffing the Court Operations Specialist (front -counter clerk) position is necessary to
manage the growing volume of public inquiries, payments, citation intake, records requests,
and customer service needs.
Without these staffing adjustments, the Court will face mounting delays, increased
administrative strain, potential liability due to missed steps in case processing and diminished
service levels for the public and law enforcement. Proactive investment now will ensure the
Court can operate efficiently, meet all statutory requirements, and adequately respond to the
heightened enforcement activity of the Police Department. This is not simply an operational
enhancement, it is a necessary step to preserve the efficiency, reliability and effectiveness of
the judicial branch.
47
We respectfully request approval for a budget amendment totaling $276,192 to support the
following staffing changes:
1. Add 1 FTE Court Operations Specialist -Bailiff position
2. Add 1 FTE Court Operations Specialist position
It is important to inform the Council that these caseload increases also support the need to
increase the presiding judge's position from .90 FTE to a full-time position. Since the judge's
position is appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council, the request for
increasing the judge's position will be submitted by the Mayor's office at a later date.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Complete for all items with fiscal implications
Disclaimer; Final terms and scope of work subject to review by the City Attorney
❑ Expenditure - Budgeted
Expenditures:
Fund Source:
$276,192 = $272,692
General Fund
Expenditure - Unbudgeted
❑ Expenditure - Grant -Funded
(salaries & benefits) +
❑ Revenue — One -Time (e.g.
$3500 (equipment)
asset sale, surplus equipment)
Receivables (if applicable):
Revenue - Ongoing
$813,282.53 (per Finance
Department)
ATTACHMENTS
A. Case Filings (2021-2025)
B. Hearings Held (2021-2025)
C. Budget Supported Organization Chart
D. 2026 Court Positions Salaries
E. Receivables (2021-2025) - added after 04/13 F&G Meeting
F. Court Total Budget 2026 - added after 04/13 F&G Meeting
G. Minutes from 04/13 Finance & Governance Committee Meeting
48
Exhibit A
CASES FILED
Year CASES FILED % DIFFERENCE (+/-)
2025 11,124 161% *2 park speed zone photo enforcement cameras implemented July 2025
2024 4,254 8%
2023 3,941 -23%
2022 5,092 74%
2021 2,934
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
2025
*School zone photo enforcement began in October 2021 with 2 cameras
279%
Total Percentage of Case Fillings Increase between 2021-2025
61%
Total Percentage of Case Fillings Increase 274%
4,254
2024
8%
3,941
2023
IIIIN CASES FILED DIFFERENCE (+/-)
2022
2,934
2021
200%
150%
100%
50%
0%
-50%
49
Exhibit B B
HEARINGS HELD
YEAR HEARINGS HELD % DIFFERENCE (+/-)
2025 11,155 19% *2 park speed zone photo enforcement cameras implemented July 2025
2024 9,369 6% *563 Blake Hearings
2023 8,845 5% *242 Blake Hearings
2022 8,413
2021 8,467
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
11,155
2025
19%
-1%
*school zone photo enforcement began in October 2021
32%
Total Percentage Increase of Hearings Held between 2021-2025
Total Percentage Increase of Hearings Held 32%
9,369
6%
2024
8,845
2023
5%
8,413
Inn HEARINGS HELD —% DIFFERENCE (+/-)
2022
8,467
2021
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
-5%
50
Exhibit CC
TUKWILA MUNICIPAL COURT PROPOSED
ORGANIZATION CHART
Court Operations Associate -
Bailiff
(1)
(Add 1)
Deputy Judicial Branch
Administrator
Program Coordinator/Court
Operations Supervisor
Court Operations Associate
(2)
(Add 1)
Court Support Services
Manager
Court Support Services Case
Manager
Court Support Services
Specialist
Presiding Judge
.90 FTE
(Increase to 1 FTE)
Judicial Branch Administrator
Program Coordinator/Court
Operations Trainer/IT
Specialist
Court Operations Assistant
51
Exhibit D D
2026 Court Positions Salaries
Municipal Court Judge
Social Security
Medicare
PERS
Ind Insurance
Medical/Dental
Vision
Life
Ltd
WPFML
Total With Benefits
Pay Grade Monthly
n/a
90% 100% Difference
$16,957.00 $18,841.00 $1,884.00
$1,051.33 $1,168.14 $116.81
$245.88 $273.19 $27.31
$946.20 $1,051.33 $105.13
$32.51 $32.51 $0.00
$1,891.56 52,101.74 $210.18
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00
$54.74 $60.83 $6.09
$21,179.22 $23,528.74 $2,349.52
Annually
90% 100% Difference
$203,484.00 $226,092.00
$11,439.00 $11,439.00
$2,950.52 $3,278.33
$11,354.41 $12,615.93
$390.12 $390.12
$22,698.72 $25,220.88
$0.00 $0.00
$0.00 $0.00
$0.00 $0.00
$595.64 $595.64
$252,912.41 ;$279,631,90:
$22,608.00
$0.00
$327.81
$1,261.52
$0.00
$2,522.16
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$26,719.49
Court Operations Associate
Social Security
Medicare
PERS
Ind Insurance
Medical/Dental
(Employee/Spouse/2+ Children)
Vision
Life
Ltd
WPFML
Total With Benefits
Monthly
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
12 $5,408.00 $5,679.00 $5,963.00 $6,265.00 $6,575.00
$335.30 $352.10 $369.71 $388.43 $407.65
$78.42 $82.35 $86.46 $90.84 $95.34
$301.77 $316.89 $332.74 $349.59 $366.89
$32.51 $32.51 $32.51 $32.51 $32.51
$3,138.83 $3,138.83 $3,138.83 $3,138.83 $3,138.83
$17.30 $17.30 $17.30 $17.30 $17.30
$7.00 $7.00 $7.00 $7.00 $7.00
$10.55 $11.07 $11.63 $12.22 $12.82
$17.46 $18.33 $19.25 $20.23 $21.23
$9,347.14 $9,655.38 $9,978.43 $10,321.95 $10,674,57
Annually
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
$64,896.00
$4,023.55
$940.99
$3,621.20
$390.12
$68,148.00
$4,225.18
$988.15
$3,802.66
$390.12
$71,556.00
$4,436.47
51,037.56
$3,992.82
$390.12
$75,180.00
$4,661.16
$1,090.11
$4,195.04
$390.12
$78,900.00
$4,891.80
$1,144.05
$4,402.62
$390.12
$37,665.96 $37,665.96 $37,665.96 $37,665.96 $37,665.96
$207.60 $207.60 $207.60 $207.60 $207.60
$84.00 $84.00 $84.00 $84.00 $84.00
$126.55 $132.89 $139.53 $146.60 $153.86
$209.51 $220.01 $231.01 $242.71 $254.72
$112 165 48 $115 864 57 $119,741.07 $123 863 30 $128;094.73
Court Operations Specialist -
Social Security
Medicare
PERS
Ind Insurance
Medical/Dental
(Employee/Spouse/2+ Children)
Vision
Life
Ltd
WPFML
Total With Benefits
aili
128,094.73- Court Operations Associate
144,597.28 - Bailiff
272,692.01 Total for clerk positions
Monthly
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
-17 $6,405.00 $6,725.00 $7,063.00 $7,413.00 $7,784.00
$397.11 $416.95 $437.91 $459.61 $482.61
$92.87 $97.51 $102.41 $107.49 $112.87
$357.40 $375.26 $394.12 $413.65 $434.35
$32.51 $32.51 $32.51 $32.51 $32.51
$3,138.83 $3,138.83 $3,138.83 $3,138.83 $3,138.83
$17.30 $17.30 $17.30 $17.30 $17.30
$7.00 $7.00 $7.00 $7.00 $7.00
$12.49 $13.11 $13.77 $14.46 $15.18
$20.68 $21.71 $22.80 $23.93 $25.13
$10,481.19 $10,845,18 $11,229.65 $11,627.78 $12,049.78
Annually
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
$76,860.00
$4,765.32
$1,114.47
$4,288.79
$390.12
$80,700.00
$5,003.40
$1,170.15
$4,503.06
$390.12
$84,756.00
$5,254.87
$1,228.96
$4,729.38
$390.12
$88,956.00
$5,515.27
$1,289.86
$4,963.74
$390.12
$93,408.00
$5,791.30
$1,354.42
$5,212.17
$390.12
$37,665.96 $37,665.96 $37,665.96 $37,665.96 $37,665.96
$207.60 $207.60 $207.60 $207.60 $207.60
$84.00 $84.00 $84.00 $84.00 $84.00
$149.88 $157.37 $165.27 $173.46 $182.15
$248.14 $260.53 $273.63 $287.19 $301.56
$125,774.28 $130,142.19 $134,755.79 $139,533.20 $144,597.28
52
Exhibit E
DIFFERENCE
YEAR RECEIVABLES (+/-)
2025 $ 813,282.53
2024 $367,958.87
2023 $ 365,217.63
2022 $ 491,117.90
2021 $ 283,520.07
RECEIVABLES- TKM
121% *2 park speed zone photo enforcement cameras implemented July 2025
1%
-26%
73%
*school zone photo enforcement began in October 2021
187%
Total Percentage Receivables Increase between 2021-2025
$900,000.00
$813,282.53
$800,000.00 121 %
$700,000.00
$600,000.00
$ 500, 000.00
$400,000.00
$300,000.00
$200,000.00
$100, 000.00
2025
Total Percentage Receivables Increase 1.87%
67,958.87 $365,217.63
2024
IRECE AB E
-26%
2023 2022
DIFFERENCE (+/-)
$283,520.07
2021
140%
120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
-20%
-40%
53
Exhibit F
Tukwila Municipal Court total budget for 2026: $2,504,217.00
54
City of Tukwila
City Council Finance & Governance Committee
Meeting Minutes
April 13, 2026 - 5:30 p.m. - Hybrid Meeting; Hazelnut Conference Room & MS Teams
Councilmembers Present:
Staff Present:
1. BUSINESS AGENDA
Verna Seal, Chair; Dennis Martinez, Hannah Hedrick
Marty Wine, Aaron BeMiller, Tony Cullerton, Megan Marks, Kim
Walden, Valerie Marino, Adam Schierenbeck
A. Resolutions: Fund Balance Policy and Financial Policies
Staff is seeking approval of resolutions to adopt a Fund Balance Policy and update existing
Financial Policies.
Committee Recommendation
Unanimous approval. Forward to April 27, 2026 Committee of the Whole.
B. Municipal Court Staffing Request
Staff is seeking approval to add 2 FTE, a Court Operations Specialist - Bailiff and a Court
Operations Specialist to support current workload in the Court.
Item(s) for follow-up:
Provide additional information about Court revenue to the Committee of the Whole.
Committee Recommendation
Unanimous approval. Forward to April 27, 2026 Committee of the Whole.
C. Business & Occupation Tax Rates and Business License Fees
Staff updated the Committee on a plan to replace the current per -employee business license
fee with a tiered fee structure, to raise the annual B&O tax threshold to $1 million, and to
implement a square footage based B&O tax for certain facilities. These changes are intended
to offset each other and produce a net -zero impact on revenues.
Committee Recommendation
Discussion only.
D. February 2026 Monthly Financial Report
Staff presented the report.
Committee Recommendation
Discussion only.
55