Clallam County commissioners have unanimously approved a 2024 law enforcement contract with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

Approved Nov. 21, the $288,656 contract funds two sheriff’s deputies and reflects a 6 percent increase in operating expenses over the previous $250,000 contract.

The amount is included in the sheriff’s 2024 budget.

Undersheriff Ron Cameron said this contract matches with inflation, year to year, since it first began at $200,000.

“We tried to find some balance in there as best we can and I think this represents it very well,” he said.

Clallam County Sheriff Brian King said the two sides have talked about adding a third deputy but current staffing challenges are preventing that.

“There is continued dialogue and an ongoing desire for the Jamestown people to maybe support us in getting a third deputy tied to that contract,” he continued.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have the capacity at this time to say ‘If we signed a contract today, tomorrow we can give you a deputy’,” he said.

The contract says the sheriff’s office will provide 24-hour law enforcement services to the tribe and recognize “the general peace officer powers of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Public Safety & Natural Resource Officers.”

The tribe will pay for the contract using federal funds from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The two sides agreed the contract amount will be renegotiated every year.

The contract also says that if the BIA funding is not appropriated or allocated or is withdrawn, reduced, or otherwise limited, the tribe may request renegotiation. If the funding is terminated, the contract can be terminated with no penalty or expense.