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The Pierce County Council made significant investments in public safety, human services and public health heading into the second year of the previously approved 2020-2021 Pierce County Biennial Budget.
In a mid-biennial budget adjustment adopted Dec. 8, 2020 Council dedicated $4 million for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department to help cover costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The money is conditional on the federal government not providing additional financial support in 2021.
Council also dedicated $1.75 million to purchase dash and body cameras for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department to outfit its deputies.
“Council remains committed to public safety, as noted through its allocation to purchase dash and body cameras to establish this new program within the department,” Council Chairman Doug Richardson said.
The Pierce County Council made significant investments in public safety, human services and public health heading into the second year of the previously approved 2020-2021 Pierce County Biennial Budget.
In a mid-biennial budget adjustment adopted Dec. 8, 2020 Council dedicated $4 million for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department to help cover costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The money is conditional on the federal government not providing additional financial support in 2021.
Council also dedicated $1.75 million to purchase dash and body cameras for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department to outfit its deputies.
“Council remains committed to public safety, as noted through its allocation to purchase dash and body cameras to establish this new program within the department,” Council Chairman Doug Richardson said.
Debate rages over proposal to dissolve Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department partnership
(Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, Facebook)
With a proposal to dissolve the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s city-county partnership making progress toward passing, a hotly-contested debate has emerged among local leaders.
The legislation would effectively terminate the 38-year-old interlocal agreement Tacoma has with the county health department, a move that would cut off $1.1 million in funding provided by the city, while leading to a sizable reworking of how the department operates.
If passed, it would make it so the department’s health director would no longer report to its eight-member board of elected officials, and instead report directly to the county executive and council.