By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch Pierce County's new budget includes funding for law enforcement and transportation specific to the south county area. The County Council approved the 2015 spending plan during a meeting Nov. 17. The new budget takes effect Jan. 1 and, among other things, will devote more resources to public safety and corrections. The council authorized $75,000 for the new Parkland precinct of the Sheriff Department, including $25,000 for Safe Streets programs. The new budget also has an additional $200,000 for the Sheriff Department to hire two full-time deputies. Sheriff Paul Pastor had said in preliminary budget discussions with the council that he wanted to devote more resources to patrol and property crime prevention. On the transportation side, the budget allocates money for improvements to Canyon Road East between Frederickson and the Waller Road area. Additionally, the council retained two deputy prosecutor positions that were set to expire due to the loss of grant funding. Those individuals are expected to focus their efforts on identity theft and human trafficking cases. Other budget highlights include: " The hiring of eight additional corrections deputies at the county jail. Council members earmarked $100,000 to implement performance audit recommendations aimed at reducing what County Executive Pat McCarthy considered the high us of overtime among the jail staff. The council also asked McCarthy to incorporate the performance audit recommendations into future labor agreements. The budget also creates an ad hoc committee to evaluate jail operations on an ongoing basis. " Keeping two deputy prosecutor positions that were set to expire due to the loss of grant funding. The prosecutors are expected to focus on identity theft and human trafficking cases. " Directing county departments to begin shutting down illegal marijuana dispensaries and collective gardens as of July 1, 2015, unless the Legislature changes state marijuana laws before then. The county has defied voter-approved state law that allows retail marijuana businesses. Other highlights in the budget include: " Adding four case managers in response to the growing need in the Aging and Disability Resources program. " Keeping the total county workforce at 3,000 employees, the same as 2014 and 14 percent less than 2009 levels. The county eliminated vacant or grant-funded positions, which is why it's able to add some jobs while keeping the total number flat. " Funding for an additional ferry run to Anderson Island, pending the results of a study of ferry service. Overall, the General Fund portion of the budget (for standard operations of county agencies and government) is to increase by 3 percent, to $281.8 million. The increase is due to an improving economy and higher collections in sales taxes and higher property values. Total county spending GÇô including specific funds for roads, the airport and ferry system, stormwater and sewer systems GÇô is to drop about 5 percent to $928.7 million. "Crafting a budget is always challenging, and balancing the needs of each county department with the resources we have available can sometimes be difficult,GÇ¥ said Councilman Dan Roach. He said the budget reflects the "right priorities for county government.GÇ¥
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