Pierce County Budget Adjustment: More For Deputies, Inflation Offset

TACOMA, WA — The Pierce County Council is making some changes to the previously-approved $2.97 billion biennial budget.

The changes, approved Tuesday by the council, were requested by the Pierce County Executive’s Office, and include the reallocation of $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding. The county was allocated a total of $175,781,756 in ARPA funding, roughly half of which is expected to arrive this month.

Not all of the $20 million had already been committed to programs. Council members say there were two major drivers behind the budget alteration: the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its impact on inflation and rising gas costs, and the pending labor contract with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.

“The bulk of the changes to the budget were done to support the anticipated impacts of the proposed labor agreement with the deputies guild,” said Council Chair Derek Young. “We are trying to prepare for a significant increase in operating costs when it looks like revenue projections won’t keep pace.”

$10 million of the reallocated money will go to the county's general fund for revenue replacement. $4 million will go to offer recruitment and retention bonuses to new deputy hires, and to salary increases for longtime Pierce County Sheriff’s Department deputies

“This budget represents a major increase in investment in law enforcement expenditures for salaries,” Young said. “Sadly, it doesn’t change anything in the need to increase the number of deputies filling the department’s vacancies. To compete in this market, we need to step up substantially.”

The previously-approved budget included:

• $27 million for the Behavioral Health and Therapeutic Courts fund. Addressing Pierce County's growing behavioral health needs has been one of the county's biggest priorities for the budget season. The $27 million will be raised by the 0.1 percent sales tax that went into effect earlier this year.
• $15 million to expand broadband infrastructure. The county council in July voted to set aside $15 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to address broadband access gaps in rural parts of the county.
• $10 million for sewer infrastructure expansion. The Pierce County Sewer Connection Program serves a 117-square-mile basin across Pierce County, but only provides wastewater collection to 40 percent of homes. The extra funding aims to help to connect more of the remaining homes to the regional sewer system.

The budget alteration ordinance now heads to Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier for final approval.