The Pierce County Council passed a supplemental budget Sept. 6 to fund a new judge, open a new jail housing unit, fund additional prosecutors, public defenders, and drug enforcement, and provide hurricane relief.
The supplemental budget increases the Drug Investigation Fund and will purchase or repair Sheriff’s Department equipment used to combat the methamphetamine epidemic. It funds additional overtime for corrections officers and the opening of a new housing unit in the Pierce County jail that will hold 65 medium-security inmates. This new housing unit will help reduce the number of inmates that the jail is required to release early in order to comply with a 1995 court order.
This County Council is continuing to focus on public safety, said Council Chair Shawn Bunney. We are applying this unanticipated revenue from sales tax and fees to making Pierce County a safer place to live and work.”
Councilmember Dick Muri added, Funding additional beds in our jail will help reduce our county crime rate. Sixty-three more criminals will be serving time for their crimes instead of being back in their neighborhoods.
The Council appropriated funds to create a new Superior Court Department. The addition of a new judge and staff will improve both criminal and civil case processing times. In order to take full advantage of this new department, the Council allocated additional money for both prosecutors and public defenders. “By using existing funds, Pierce County is making vital investments in the safety of our community,” said Councilmember Calvin Goings.
Additionally, after County Executive John W. Ladenburg notified the Council that he had declared a state of emergency in order to deal with Hurricane Katrina evacuees coming through our local military bases, the Council appropriated $100,000 to the Homeless Housing Fund.
These improvements in public safety and criminal justice are possible because of revenues that were not anticipated when the budget was adopted and from re-allocation of funds that were not needed for their original budgeted purpose. The County did not raise taxes to fund these improvements.
