Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy detailed her budget proposal before the County Council Tuesday, highlighting an expanded economy, improved customer services and an investment in what she termed the “moral center” of government.
Her 2016 budget proposal calls for, among other things, finishing the county wastewater treatment facility – which is currently 65-percent complete, improving permitting processes, continuing the property clean-up program, and using “lean” continuous improvement practices to eliminate waste in county government.
“We have worked hard over the past seven years to provide a stable fiscal platform despite shouldering the burden of one of the greatest recessions this country has ever seen,” said Executive McCarthy. “I’m proud that my 2016 budget continues to provide fiscal stability and essential customer-focused services by balancing expenditures with revenues. That’s been possible in great measure because Pierce County employees have done an extremely good job of working together.”
Executive McCarthy’s proposal also underscored the need for further investments, such as:
- Pre-trial services to help reduce jail costs, keep communities safe and provide equal justice;
- Investments to support mental health services through district and juvenile courts;
- Resources to cover rising health care and pension costs;
- Meeting the increased demand and use of County parks and recreational facilities and keeping them well-maintained.
The County Council will consider the budget at a series of hearings that will be televised on Pierce County TV (channel 22 on Comcast and Click!) as well as streamed live and archived at www.piercecountytv.org. The Council will announce the hearings schedule as soon as dates are confirmed. Final approval of a 2016 budget is expected in November. To read the full text of Executive McCarthy’s comments to the County Council, please visit www.piercecountywa.org/executive.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive
(253) 798-2668
[email protected]
Ron Klein, Pierce County Communications Director
(253) 798-6606
[email protected]