County passes $1.08 billion budget, focuses on health and public services

The Pierce County Council passed a $1.08 billion budget unanimously on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

The new budget will take affect on Jan. 1. According to a county news release, the budget mainly focuses on public safety, behavioral health and the community as a whole.

Some investments include;

• An opening for one lieutenant and one deputy for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.
• $75,000 allocated for the Blighted Property Maintenance Fund.
• $100,000 for a pre-apprenticeship training program operated by Workforce Central.
• Matching funds to conduct a feasibility study for a new boat ramp at the 11^th Street Bridge on the Foss Waterway.
• $116,000 to South Sound 211 to help with behavioral health navigation services related to the opioid crisis.
• $250,000 for project feasibility and pre-development costs associated with a potential tiny home development in unincorporated Pierce County.
• $25,000 allocated to a study overseen by the South Sound Manufacturing Industrial Council and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, address how businesses located in the Tacoma Tideflats impact the economy.
• Additional monies for the Resident Side Sewer program.
• $52,00- in additional funding for the county’s Safe Street program.

According to budget documents, the county is spending 1.9 percent, or $3.5 million, more than in 2018 on public safety. This includes three new school resource officers, one new position in emergency management and one new employee in the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Budget documents also show the county is spending 5.7 percent more, or $3 million on Parks and Recreation.

For Health Services, the 2019 budget is 23.3 percent, or $16.6 million, higher than the 2018 level. The 2019 budget includes $5.6 million for development of a Crisis Recovery Center in Pierce County.