by Kirk Kirkland
Four Environmental Coalition members appeared before the County Council on March 3 spoke in favor of the “Justice Fund”. It was a new sales tax that would stabilize the 2026-2027 budget. It could also pay for renovation of the jail and the juvenile facility.
Seventy people signed up to speak with an estimated dozen speakers likely to speak in support of increasing the tax. The tension was high because the economy was declining and with it, funding from the previous sales tax. This created a $34 million dollar deficit. In addition, the previous Republican County Executive had held fees flat for eight years at a time when national inflation was increasing.
In the 2026 budget, the declining sales tax contribution was going down while unemployment was going up. Crime goes up with a failing economy. Adding to the financial problems, the Sheriff’s Department currently carried 34 vacancies — due to uncompetitive salaries offered to new recruits.
Both the county and the state budgets were hit so badly that the state governor reduced state employees by 10%. In October, the county council raised service fees to offset some of the county budget losses. They sought to avoid the 10% staff cuts recently enacted by the state Governor.
State law required a supermajority to pass the sales tax. In two prior committee meetings, no Republican member stepped forward to keep the county budget from becoming a catastrophe. In the past, Republican council members had supported funding for criminal justice.
The 76 Percent Burden of Courts and Jails
Public safety consumes 76% of the general fund. This mandate covers prosecutors, sheriffs, judges, and jailers. The remaining 24% of the general fund provides funds for everything from county parks to the Pierce County ferry. These programs face cuts when criminal justice costs rise beyond the 76% level.
The budget process is not competitive as all projects and programs are essential. The budget funds veteran shelters, transitional housing, and behavioral health facilities. County parks and social services share the same small slice of the pie. The budget allocates $2.63 million to food banks and senior services. Another $10 million sustains daily county park operations. How does a council member make these difficult budget decisions when so many programs help the most vulnerable people?
The Ferry Gap
Let’s look at the Pierce County Ferry. It connects Steilacoom to Anderson and Ketron Islands. It is a high-cost operation that requires a significant subsidy from the general fund. Its annual operating cost is $12 million. Revenue comes from tolls of $4.5 million contributing 38% of the total ferry expenses. The general fund subsidizes the remaining gap at an annual cost of $7.5 million.
The ferry riders toll has already been increased. But there’s no way to cut maintenance and no way to reduce the crew cost. Cutting several ferry runs would reduce ferry tolls and would only reduce the fuel cost.
The council chambers holds 35 seats. Another 35 people waited in an overflow room. The first three people asked the council to pass the sales tax. One asked “Please do not pass on this budget crisis to next year’s council members to fix.”
Another speaker asked the republican council members to make this an Information-driven decision. “This vote was not the right place to make a political-driven decision that divides the county council. This is the time for the two political parties take responsibility for the deficit.”
Another speaker said: “For just a penny on each dollar spent, the 2028 budget will be able to sustain our criminal justice system without impacting parks, veterans, or ferry riders. This vote would benefit everyone who chooses to call Pierce County home.”
The hearing went on for hours. Everyone was allowed a 2 minute speech. After a very short recess, the council members returned. Around a dozen people remained to listen to each council member debate the issue and justify their vote.
When it was time for Dave Morell to speak, he said: “If we wait, the $30 million deficit will only rise and the risk to our community will only grow.”
In a long speech the republican said “Our sheriff’s deputies are over worked and underpaid. We need a plan going forward to make sure all the money is spent wisely. We can’t wait to renovate our jail and our juvenile facility.” He offered to bring a plan forward called Justice Center Master Plan.
Four other councilmembers also spoke in favor of raising the sales tax. Then the county council clerk called for the roll call, and council member Morell voted “Yes” — providing the critical vote.