Pierce County is gearing up for its 2024 Comprehensive Plan (plan) update, a process mandated by state law under the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA). To balance the plan and better understand the benefits and trade-offs of different approaches, Pierce County has studied three options: You have an opportunity to share your perspective on […]
Ending Homelessness: Pierce County Council Charts Path Towards Unified Regional Approach
In March 2022, Pierce County took a significant step in the fight against homelessness by officially adopting a Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness (CPEH). This plan, comprised of six crucial goals, prioritizes the formation of a Unified Regional Approach, or URA. The CPEH defines a URA as a coordinating system with a shared vision and operating structure […]
Pierce County Council chooses council leadership for 2024
The Pierce County Council elected to retain its 2023 bipartisan leadership group to serve as Council leadership in 2024 during its first regular meeting of the year, held on Tuesday, Jan. 2. For 2024, Councilmember Ryan Mello (District 4) will continue to serve as Council Chair, Councilmember Marty Campbell (District 5) will continue to serve […]
Pierce County Council Approves New Grant Program for Small Businesses
TACOMA – The Pierce County Council approved Ordinance No. 2023-69s on Tuesday, Dec. 5, establishing a Small Business Strengthening and Security Grant Program to increase the viability and security of small businesses in unincorporated Pierce County and its small cities and or towns with a population less than 8,000. Under the program, eligible small businesses in Pierce County […]
Pierce County Council Adopts 2024-2025 Biennial Budget
TACOMA – On Tuesday, Nov. 21, the culmination of more than two months of work took shape with the Pierce County Council’s adoption of the final 2024-2025 Biennial Budget. The budget is the framework used to fund public services and invest public dollars into the priorities of the community and their elected Council for the next […]
Pierce County Council Fails to Override Community Needs Fund Veto
TACOMA – In a 4-3 vote, the Pierce County Council failed to override County Executive Bruce Dammeier’s veto of the Community Needs Fund (Ordinance No. 2023-68). The Council requires a supermajority to override a veto, where at least five members vote to override the Executive’s action. The program would have authorized the Council to provide funding […]
Pierce County Council to Hold Public Hearings on 2024-2025 Budget Proposal
TACOMA – Community members will have two opportunities to publicly comment on the Proposed 2024-2025 Biennial Budget. The Pierce County Council will hold public hearings on Ordinance No. 2023-44s on Tuesday, Nov. 14, and Tuesday, Nov. 21, at 3 p.m. or soon thereafter to hear public testimony on the Biennial Budget. What: Public Hearings on Proposed 2024-2025 Biennial […]
Council Chair Releases Proposed 2024-2025 Biennial Budget
TACOMA – On Wednesday, Nov. 1, Pierce County Council Chair Ryan Mello (District 4) went on an early morning walk in the Bethel School District with Pierce County Councilmembers Jani Hitchen (District 6) and Amy Cruver (District 3). The purpose was to see the routes hundreds of kids in the school district take each morning. On […]
Budget Development Update No. 4: Entering Budget Deliberations
Today (October 26) the Council entered its budget deliberations. A lot has transpired to get us to this point. The process began Sept 19 with County Executive Bruce Dammeier presentation of his 2024-2025 Budget Proposal. Thereafter, the Council heard from Gary Robinson, the County’s Finance Director, on Thursday, Sept. 28, when he provided an in-depth overview of […]