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closeCounty budget reflects slow economy
Biggest cuts come in mental health, planning services
Nate Hulings
of the Gateway
The Pierce County Council passed a $269.3 million budget last week for 2010, shaping the spending and direction of the county for the next year.
“It was a hard budget,” said County Council member Terry Lee, R-Gig Harbor. “I guess the difference between the executive and the council is we are a bit more concerned with continued revenue shortfalls. We went the extra mile to reduce expenditures to a greater degree than the executive did.”
The nearly $3 million in overall cuts comes in the form of a $1.9 million reduction in funding for the Planning and Land Services Department, resulting in more than 20 staffing cuts.
Cuts came as a result of trying to balance staffing levels with slowing permit applications, Lee said.
“We decided that, if we’re going to cut a department, what would be the easiest to reinstate?” he said. “We can hire planners quicker and more effectively than cops.”
Lee said PALS generally is 80 percent self-funded. That dropped to less than 50 percent this year.
The cuts are one of County Executive Pat McCarthy’s concerns about the budget. She has until Nov. 30 to veto the budget.
“Many economists predict the economy will turn around in the coming year, and I am concerned that this budget cut will result in a large backlog in processing permits,” she said in a written statement. “If we have a giant backlog, then construction activity could shift to neighboring counties as the economy bounces back, thus slowing Pierce County’s recovery.”
There will be 300 fewer county workers in 2010, with more than 130 cut from mental health services — a service which will now rest with the state.
Lee said the state was reimbursing the county to provide mental health services. However, cuts in reimbursement forced the county to use general fund dollars — something he called an uncomfortable proposition.
Council members also kept their hands out of the general fund balance in order to balance the 2010 budget. McCarthy originally proposed to extract $1 million from the general fund balance for 2010 use.
An amendment directed toward McCarthy also asks for ideas on how the general fund expenditures may also be cut by either 1 or 3 percent, in case a supplemental budget must be drafted in 2010.
General election results also had a say in how the county will spend its money next year. With voters repealing Ranked Choice Voting, the county will save $500,000 in no-longer-needed system upgrades.
Another $150,000 is budgeted to continue poll voting in Pierce County — the only county statewide that still has polling stations.
Public safety also was at the forefront of budget discussions. The Superior Court, prosecuting attorney’s office and the district court all received increased funding for next year.
However, the jail budget was reduced by $85,000.
Department consolidation may also be necessary. The council has asked McCarthy to report back in June on the feasibility of creating a General Services Division that would merge human resources, budget and finance, facilities, risk management and information.
“Too many departments have been standalone departments, which is good when you can afford it,” Lee said.
PALS may also be merged with the Public Works and Utilities Department, Lee said.
Sagging transportation project jobs will be transferred to projects funded by sewer rate increases, Lee added.
Lee also said the county has earmarked $3 million in the general fund to backfill its pension program.