The Pierce County Council signaled Thursday that it wants to overturn recent cuts to public safety spending despite a worsening revenue shortfall.

At a budget retreat, council members indicated they want to avoid any cuts to the Sheriff’s Department, the jail, courts and other public safety departments.

That will come at a steep cost for other departments. Public safety accounts for nearly 75 percent of the county’s $286 million general fund.

Protecting public safety would mean a 12 percent cut for the rest of the general fund, which helps pay for services ranging from land-use planning to property assessments.

Council members did not decide on specific cuts. But several members signaled a willingness to make difficult decisions as budget discussions progress.

“We’ve got to downsize county government,” said Councilman Shawn Bunney, R-Lake Tapps.

The tenor of Thursday’s budget retreat was markedly different from that of previous years. In the past, the retreats have been a forum for discussing how to spend a steady stream of growing revenue.

This year, the county faces a $7 million revenue shortfall thanks to a sluggish economy. Sales tax revenue, building permit fees and other charges are less than budgeted. And declining interest rates have cut into county interest income.

Earlier this month, County Executive John Ladenburg responded with $7.1 million in budget cuts and fund transfers. Much of the savings came from cutting dozens of unfilled vacancies – including six new sheriff’s deputies and six new corrections officers budgeted for this year.

At Thursday’s retreat, the council indicated it wants to undo those and other public safety cuts and avoid any cuts in those areas in the 2009 budget. The council will discuss alternative cuts with Ladenburg.

The council also suggested several other budget priorities, including:

 • Prioritizing spending and focusing on the county’s core services.

 • A possible restructuring of departments to eliminate administrative overhead.

 • Greater emphasis on carrying out the recommendations of various performance audits.

 • Cutting spending for community and social service groups.

 • Creating a $500,000 economic development fund to be used at the discretion of the county executive.

The council will firm up these and other proposals and forward them to Ladenburg as he prepares next year’s budget.

That budget is not looking good. So far the county has not resorted to layoffs to balance this year’s budget. But county budget director Patrick Kenney said they may be coming in 2009.

“This is not a good year,” Kenney told the council. “2009 will not be a good year.”

David Wickert: 253-274-7341

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