Executive focuses on priorities in 'very difficult' budget

Tuesday Sep 22 2009 4:27 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 22, 2009

Facing the worst economic climate in decades, Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy submitted a 2010 budget to the County Council today that would make substantial spending cuts while preserving public safety and economic development as the top priorities.

Under the Executive's proposal, more than 200 County jobs would be cut next year, and some programs would be consolidated, reduced or eliminated. Criminal justice, which accounts for three quarters of County spending, would be protected from proportionate cuts. And the budget would fund initiatives aimed at business and job growth that would help the local economy rebound.

"The worst recession since the Great Depression has forced us to take a new look at how we provide quality public services to our citizens in the face of declining revenues," Executive McCarthy said during her presentation to the Council. "My goal was to find a balance in the continuity of effective programs and the stability of our system."

The seven-member Pierce County Council has scheduled a series of budget hearings over the coming weeks to review the proposed spending plan for next year. Final approval is scheduled for Nov. 10.

In her address to the Council, Executive McCarthy pointed out a pair of notable "firsts" in the budget - neither of them good.

-- In what might be the first time in history, the County's assessed valuation total is projected to decrease from the prior year ? from $92.6 billion in 2009 to $88.6 billion in 2010.

-- It is the first time in at least 20 years that the County is considering a reduction in the General Fund budget. The Executive's proposal cuts the General Fund by 2.6 percent, from $277.8 million to $270.6 million.

When factoring in total County spending, the Executive's budget reduces spending by $70 million, which is 8 percent below the 2009 budget.

Every department in Pierce County government would be negatively impacted in 2010.

The Executive's budget proposes to cut 109 jobs that are funded by the General Fund. The total increases to 285 jobs when positions funded by other accounts are added. That would leave the total County workforce at 3,106 positions, down 11 percent from the peak of 3,488 in 2008.

In addition to the staff cuts, at least eight departments that are funded by the General Fund are budgeting for staff furloughs in 2010.

"Keep in mind that we serve a growing population of 813,000," Executive McCarthy told the Council. "Pressure to provide criminal justice, road maintenance, utilities and countless other services to our citizens continues to increase as our county gets larger."

The Executive asked her department heads and the county's independently elected sheriff, prosecuting attorney, assessor-treasurer and judges to make recommendations regarding what to cut from their budgets.

"In many cases, I accepted their recommendations," Executive McCarthy said. "But I challenged them to make sure the changes and reductions are strategic."

The cuts are not proportional to the amount of funding a department or service area receives. For example, criminal justice services consume 76 percent of General Fund spending, but the proposed cuts in those programs equal just 53 percent of the total spending cuts.

"This is a very difficult budget," the Executive said. "Public safety is my top priority, and while criminal justice programs had to take some cuts due to their overwhelming proportion of County spending, I am proud of my budget team for finding ways to mitigate the reductions."

Some of those mitigating strategies include tapping reserves from internal County funds, such as the information technology, self-insurance and facilities management funds. Elsewhere, federal stimulus grants will help the sheriff, prosecutor and Superior Court.

The Executive's budget seeks to promote economic development in Pierce County by continuing initiatives that consolidate the County code, make improvements in permitting predictability, and recommend changes in infrastructure policies to help facilitate private investment that targets job growth.

One of the largest spending cuts in the Executive's budget would come in the category known as Miscellaneous Current Expense. This catch-all category has typically funded such items as the County's dues to such membership organizations as the Washington State Association of Counties, support for such nonprofit agencies as Safe Streets and senior centers, and contributions to neighborhood and civic groups that use the money for arts, cultural activities, entertainment, historic preservation and other needs. The Executive's budget proposes to cut this miscellaneous category by $900,000, or 24 percent. Priority was given to public safety and human services.

The Parks and Recreation Department proposes to eliminate services at 16 parks, including Breseman Forest, Mayfair Park, Swan Creek, Seeley Lake and the Purdy Sand Spit. Services would be reduced at 13 park sites, including Sprinker Recreation Center, Lakewood Community Center, Lake Tapps County Park, Foothills Trail, and Sunrise Beach.

Over the next seven weeks, Executive McCarthy, some of her department directors and the County's other independently elected leaders will meet with the Council to review the spending proposals and revenue forecasts in detail. The Council's budget hearings are broadcast live on C-RCC TV (channel 22 on Comcast and Click!, and channel 78 on Rainier Connect). Council meetings are also streamed live at www.rcc.pierce.wa.us/.

The budget proposal is available online here.

Contact: Hunter George, Pierce County Communications director, 253-798-6606 or hgeorge@co.pierce.wa.us

Find more Pierce County news at www.piercecountywa.org or follow us at twitter.com/pierceco.