Pierce County will cut about 75 jobs, delay capital spending and boost a variety of fees to balance a 2009 budget approved Tuesday by the County Council.
The $854 million spending plan also counts on cheap gas and revenue from red light cameras to keep the county in the black.
Council members say the budget supports key services such as public safety while cutting back in other areas.
“Government does not always need to grow,” said Councilman Shawn Bunney, R-Lake Tapps.
For years Pierce County government grew steadily, fueled by a residential and commercial development boom that provided a dependable source of revenue.
But earlier this year, as the real estate market slumped, the county cut nearly $5 million from its 2008 budget. With a full-blown recession likely, the council approved a largely status-quo spending plan for 2009.
Total spending will fall about 3 percent from this year’s budget. Spending on the general fund, which includes most traditional county services such as law enforcement and courts, would rise about 1 percent to $289 million.
The general fund plan would cut about 75 jobs, most of them vacant.
The county planning department will take the biggest hit, losing about 38 positions. Planning department Director Chuck Kleeberg said five of those will be layoffs. With the slowdown in construction, county officials believe the department doesn’t need as many employees to do its job.
Other work force reductions are spread across various departments. The budget also cuts spending on overtime, equipment, training and other line items.
While other departments cut staff, the sheriff’s department would add six positions, paid for with contracts or grants.
Other budget highlights:
• The council voted to charge more for various county services. Sewer rates would rise an average of 5 percent. Surface water management fees – assessed to pay for flood control and water quality programs – would increase 10 percent. Fees on park rentals, fire inspections, court filings and other services also would go up.
• The council declined to raise numerous planning department fees, which County Executive John Ladenburg had counted on to bring in $1.7 million.
To help offset the loss of planning fee revenue, the council took advantage of plummeting gas prices to lower projected spending on fuel. Instead of assuming gas would cost $4 a gallon, the council budgeted $3 a gallon for gasoline. That saved about $537,000.
• The council also is counting on nearly $825,000 in revenue from red-light cameras to be installed at six intersections next year. The cameras photograph people running red lights, and violators pay a $124 fine.
• Nonunion employees would get a 5.2 percent cost-of-living raise. Tacoma resident Ken Paulson, a Tacoma resident and former council candidate, said the wage increase was in stark contrast to private-sector employees, who are losing their jobs or seeing their pay cut.
Council members, who voted unanimously for the raise, described it as a way to way to retain employees.
“Recruitment and retention in Pierce County is one of our toughest challenges,” said Chairman Terry Lee, R-Gig Harbor.
The final version of the budget closely resembles the one Ladenburg proposed in September. Since then, the economy has slowed substantially, and county officials say those September revenue projections may prove to be too optimistic. The council could revisit the 2009 budget as soon as January.
“I think the world has changed, and we’re going to have to come back early in 2009 to make sure these hold up,” said county budget director Patrick Kenney.
David Wickert: 253-274-7341
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