Pierce Exec Signs $3.01 Billion Biennial Budget

TACOMA, WA — After months of planning and work, Pierce County's biennial budget is finished and set in stone after receiving a signature from Pierce Executive Bruce Dammeier.

Dammeier signed the $3.01 billion budget Tuesday, celebrating the budget for its focus on public safety, criminal justice reform, housing affordability, homelessness, and behavioral health. Previously, the budget passed the Pierce County Council on a 6-1 vote, but needed Dammeier's signature for final approval. Now that it has it, the 2022-2023 budget will go into effect starting Jan. 1.

Dammeier and other local lawmakers have expressed confidence that this budget will meet the demands of the South Sound, with particular emphasis on the housing affordability and homelessness crisis. In a news release, the council said the approved budget "commits significant funding to improve access to affordable housing and tackle the growing homeless crisis," including setting aside more than $200 million for housing programs and proposals. The county says that's the most it has ever spent on increasing affordable housing options and homelessness support services, and will more than double the current number of shelter beds in Pierce County.

"This budget sets Pierce County up for smart growth and continues our commitment to build a livable, walkable county focused on improving social and health outcomes for all residents - including our children and youth," wrote Pierce County Council Chair Derek Young.

Other budget spending highlighted by the council includes:

• $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 this 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 council also voted to increase funding to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department as it continues its pandemic response efforts, and set aside $2.5 million to start a future endowment fund for Pierce County children.

The county's budget season began back in late September, when Pierce County Executive Bruce Dampener put forward his $3 billion budget proposal. Since then, the county council held more than a dozen budget meetings to hammer out the final proposal, including four biennial budget planning meetings and 10 biennial budget committee meetings.

>> Read the budget summary from the Pierce County Council.