With final passage of Pierce Countys 2006 preliminary budget expected next month, county councilmembers will begin an aggressive plan to review the proposed budget next week.
On Nov. 3, the council will participate in a day-long budget retreat, followed by a budget review process that begins the next day.
The proposed budget, which was submitted to the council by Pierce County Executive John W. Ladenburg on Oct. 18, totals $836.1 million, which is $11.5 million below the 2005 budget. But the general fund budget, which totals $246.9 million, is $8.5 million higher than last years figure.
According to Ladenburg, the county expects favorable economic conditions such as a prosperous local economy, robust building activity, and increased property values to account for the additional general fund bottom line.
“These favorable conditions and the resulting revenue growth should allow us to moderately augment our highest priority services,” said Ladenburg, in a statement released yesterday by the county. “Hopefully, the conditions will hold throughout the coming year.”
Indeed, additional general fund revenue is needed to support a budget that is largely focused on public safety and judicial system improvements such as Drug Court, Breaking the Cycle, Juvenile Alternatives to Detention, Day Reporting Center, and the new Family Justice Center.
“The focus of this budget is going to be the same as it has been for the last five years: criminal activity, domestic violence, meth, public safety – that’s where we are putting our new money,” Ladenburg said.
The proposed budget also supports major new parks and recreation facilities, purchase of numerous parcels through the Conservation Futures fund, significant transportation program improvements, and increased staffing to eliminate the building and development permit backlog.
Final passage of Pierce Countys 2006 preliminary budget is expected the week of Nov. 21.
