Wages: Why is income so low in Pierce County?
Re: “Pierce County ranks No. 7 in personal income” (TNT, 11-21).
Pierce County, home of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, is seventh in the state in personal income, 37 percent less than King County. Great!
Everyone raves about JBLM and how much income it provides to the region. According to the JBLM boosters, it also provides hundreds of jobs. But what kind of jobs? Mostly low-wage retail.
The huge federal property that JBLM sits on does not contribute any property tax to the state coffers. The commissary and exchanges do not collect sales tax. Not only active-duty service members can use the commissary, but also military retirees.
Why is it that Pierce County cannot attract high-wage jobs?
Mary Ann Leskie, Tacoma
This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 12:06 PM with the headline "Wages: Why is income so low in Pierce County?."