State projects on tap for Pierce County

The state Senate wants to build housing for Pierce County residents dealing with mental health problems, but only if the county raises its sales tax.

Every large urban county except Pierce charges a sales tax of one-tenth of 1 percent to pay for local mental health services.

The idea of “health homes” around the state, including a $1.5 million Pierce County home contingent on the local tax, is among the spending items under consideration for the Legislature’s supplemental capital budget.

A version that has passed the Senate proposes the money, but a competing House version does not. The capital budget awards money for one-time spending, such as construction projects and grants to local governments. The Legislature’s 60-day session ends March 10.

Other proposals in the capital budgets:

WOOD STOVES

PROJECT: New heating equipment to replace old wood stoves that are now illegal in much of Pierce County. The air in the Tacoma area has been among the worst in the country for fine-particulate pollution. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says previous funding will allow removal of 550 wood stoves this year and the proposed money would remove about 800 more, clearing out a wait list.

LOCATION: The Tacoma-Pierce County “Smoke Reduction Zone.” Check your address at airsafepiercecounty.org/wood-stove-rule.

COST: $1.35 million.

BUDGET: Included by the Senate but not the House.

STUDENT HOUSING

PROJECT: Purchase and renovation of property for student housing for Pierce College students.

LOCATION: Pierce College’s Fort Steilacoom campus in Lakewood.

COST: $3 million.

BUDGET: Included in House and Senate.

MENTAL-HEALTH FACILITIES

PROJECT: Design of an 18-bed addition to the Child Study and Treatment Center for long-term inpatient care of youths with mental illness. Various improvements to Western State Hospital, including a new ward for detentions ordered by civil courts.

LOCATION: The facilities share a campus in Lakewood.

COST: The House wants $1.95 million for Western State, plus $450,000 for the children’s center. The Senate wants $3.35 million for Western State, but omits the children’s beds.

BUDGET: Different approaches by House and Senate.

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 2:59 PM with the headline "State projects on tap for Pierce County."