Council Priorities and Budget

Priorities Budget Process Adopted 2020-21 Budget Budget Retreats Committee of the Whole Past Budgets

2022-2023 Budget Summary final Opens in new window




The Pierce County Council adopted the 2022-2023 Biennial Budget Nov. 23, 2021. View the Budget Summary here.






2022 Council Priorities

In March 2022 the Pierce County Council met to review progress on its 2021 priorities and discuss priorities for 2022.


Through its review, the 2021 priorities were refined to reflect progress made in the previous year and updated to carry into 2022. While the 10 theme areas from 2021 remain priorities in 2022, a key priority that emerged for 2022 was Public Safety.


Council will emphasize the identified high-priority areas through its legislative and budgetary actions in 2022.


View the full report.

2022 State Legislative Priorities

2023 Leg Priorites flier v.4_Page_1

The Pierce County Council represents and serves the citizens of Pierce County, working to ensure that Pierce County is an exceptional place for families, individuals, and business to grow and be successful. Council acts in the best interest of its citizens by establishing policies that guide County government, allocating resources to implement policies and monitoring implementation. The Council is transparent in its actions to remain accountable to citizens. 

For 2023, Council is focusing its priorities in the following areas: 

  • Housing and Homelessness. 
  • Economic Development and Fiscal Sustainability. 
  • Public Safety, Public Health, and Human Services.
  • Environment and Land Use.
  • Infrastructure Needs.


Creating the Biennial Budget

Pierce County 2022-2023 Biennial Budget banner

Contact


Paul Bocchi, 

Senior Budget Analyst

Office of the Pierce County Council


Phone:

253-798-7777

800-992-2456

One of the primary duties of the Pierce County Council is "to levy taxes, appropriate revenue, and adopt budgets for the County," (Charter, Section 2.20 (1)(a)).The Council adopts a biennial budget by Dec. 1 of each year ending in an odd number.

 

Pierce County uses the biennial operating budget to monitor revenue and expenses, and to improve financial management and strategic planning. 


The budget is the single most important document the Pierce County Council uses to oversee the delivery of services, programs and resources to Pierce County residents. The budget is the official financial plan for the county. Between biennial budgets, the Council may consider supplemental budgets and other budget changes, such as provisos and companion budget proposals.

Additional Budget Information

Steps outlining how the biennial budget is crafted

Budget Documents

Budget documents reflect prior adopted Pierce County budgets. We hope it will enhance your understanding of how the county is organized, the services it provides, and the funding sources used to provide those services.

2022-23 Council Budget Process

Council kicked off its 2022-2023 Biennial Budget process April 15 with a Special Study Session. The meeting introduced new members to the biennial budget planning process and began discussion around meeting Council's identified 2021 priorities through budget planning. A second meeting was held April 16 to continue the conversation. 

View the budget slides presented at the April 15 meeting.


On Sept. 21 Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier presented his proposed 2022-2023 Biennial Budget to Council. Find the proposed budget, including an abbreviated executive summary, online.


Council held four Special Study Sessions before kicking off a series of Committee of the Whole meetings to review and discuss the proposed 2022-2023 budget. 


After approving a series of amendments, Council adopted a final 2022-2023 Biennial Budget at its Nov. 23, 2021 meeting. Read more. 


The Executive signed the document at the end of 2021, and it took effect Jan. 1, 2022.

2022-2023 Biennial Budget Planning Meetings


Proposal R2021-128 adopted by the Pierce County Council on Aug. 10, 2021 established the following meeting dates and times to review the proposed 2022-2023 Biennial Budget.

Biennial Budget planning retreats (special study sessions)

In Fall 2021 the Pierce County Council held a series of budget planning special study sessions to review budget requests and prepare the 2022-2023 biennial budget for final adoption. The schedule of those meetings and topics discussed are listed and linked below.


Meeting date and time
Oct. 7, 9:30 a.m. (Topics: budget overview, Planning and Public Works and general government)
Oct. 8, 9:30 a.m. (Topics: Human services, housing and homelessness and legal and judicial)
Oct. 14, 9:30 a.m. (Topics: Public Safety and Parks and Recreation)
Oct. 15, 9:30 a.m. (Topics: Facilities, ARPA, Council Discussion)



Biennial Budget Committee of the Whole (COW) meetings


Meeting date and time
Oct. 20 
Oct. 21
  • 9:30 a.m. (Topic: Planning and Public Works) 
  • 1:30 p.m.(Topic: Planning and Public Works)  
Oct, 22
  • 9:30 a.m. (Topics, Human Resources and Assessor-Treasurer's Office)
Oct. 27 
  • 9:30 a.m. (Topics: Superior Court, Juvenile Court) 
  • 1:30 p.m. (Topics: Auditor's Office, District Court)
Oct. 28
  • 9:30 a.m. (Topics: Medical Examiner, Parks and Recreation)
  • 1:30 p.m. (Topics: Department of Assigned Counsel, Prosecuting Attorney, Facilities Management)
Oct. 29
Nov. 3
  • 9:30 a.m. (Topic: Finance and IT)
  • 1:30 p.m. (Topics: Sheriff's Office and Corrections Bureau)
Nov. 4
  • 1:30 p.m. (Topic: Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department)
Nov. 5 
Nov. 9
  • 9:30 a.m. (Topic: 2021-94 6-year Transportation Improvement Plan and 14-year Ferry Plan; Proposal 2021-115 Utility Infrastructure Partnership Plan)
Nov. 10 
  • 9:30 a.m. (Topic: 2021-110s Capital Facilities Plan)
Nov. 12
  • 9:30 a.m. Review ordinances related to adoption of the biennial budget.
  • 1:30 p.m. Review Councilmember amendments related to the biennial budget.