Pierce County, Washington
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Pierce County is the second largest county in Washington. The population of Pierce County is 802,000 people as of 2011. The 20111 median income in Pierce is roughly $40,000 a year.[1]
Website evaluation
Last rated on Jan. 23, 2012
The good
- Current bids are posted, contracts not available.[2]
- Budget is published.[3]
- Annual financial audits posted.[4] Performance audits also available.[5]
- Building permits[6] and zoning information provided.[7]
- Local tax information provided.[8]
- County council members listed with contact information.[9] Meeting schedule[10], agendas and minutes available.[11]
- Includes contact information and forms for public records requests.[12]
- Administrative officials listed under respective departments.
The bad
- Does not disclose if belongs to government sector lobbying associations.
Budget
The 2012 budget allocates $274 million for the general fund and $528 million for other spending for a total of $802 million.The following table outlines expenditures in the 2012 budget.[13] The budget included no raises for cost of living and cuts roughly 46 full time positions.[14]
The following table outlines expenditures in the 2012 budget.[15]
| Expenditure | Percent |
| PW and Utilities | 33.8% |
| Public Safety | 22.5% |
| Legal | 10.7% |
| Mental/Physical Health | 10.9% |
| Physical Environment | 6.1% |
| Economic Environment | 4.7% |
| General Government | 5.5% |
| Culture/Rec | 4.0% |
| Debt Service | 1.8% |
| Total | 100.0% |
The following table outlines revenue sources in the 2012 budget.[16]
| Revenue Type | Percent |
| Property Tax | 23.9% |
| Intergovernmental | 21.9% |
| Charges for Services | 17.7% |
| All Other Taxes | 11.8% |
| All Other Sources | 13.4% |
| Licenses and Permits | 1.7% |
| Fines/Forfeits | 0.8% |
| Interest | 0.5% |
| Other Miscellaneous | 8.3% |
| Total | 100.0% |
Elected Officials
County Council
The County Council is the legislative branch of the county government and is made up of seven members serving four year terms in partisan elections.[17]
| First | Last | Position | District | Term Expiration | Party | Salary (2011 Gross Pay) |
| Joyce | McDonald | Council Chair | 2 | 2012 | Republican | $114,771.00 |
| Dan | Roach | Member | 1 | 2014 | Republican | $113,339.00 |
| Roger | Bush | Member | 3 | 2012 | Republican | $114,771.00 |
| Timothy | Farrell | Member | 4 | 2012 | Democrat | $114,771.00 |
| Rick | Talbert | Member | 5 | 2014 | Democrat | $128,408.00 |
| Dick | Muri | Executive Pro Tempore | 6 | 2012 | Republican | $114,771.00 |
| Stan | Flemming | Member | 7 | 2014 | Republican | $113,339.00 |
=Recent News on County Council as of July 2012
- Candidates for Congress
- Charter amendment proposal for taxes
- The County Council approved sending a charter amendment to voters that requires a super majority of the council to approve a tax increase. The vote passed 5-2 and would require five of the seven members of the council to approve of a county tax increase.[20]
Executive Branch
The Pierce County Executive is Democrat Pat McCarthy.[21]
| First | Last | Position | Party | Salary (2011 Gross Pay) |
| Pat | McCarthy | County Executive | Democrat | $178,773.00 |
| Julie | Andserson | Auditor | Democrat | $126,385.00 |
| Mark | Lindquist | Prosecuting Attorney | Democrat | $148,424.00 |
| Paul | Pastor | Sheriff | Republican | $144,534.00 |
| Dale | Washam | Assessor-Treasurer | Non-partisan | $126,221.00 |
- Ethics Violations
- In 2010, current Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer used public funds in his bid to unseat Prosecuting Attorney Mark Lindquist. He was reprimanded by the Pierce County Ethics Commission and given a fine of $500. A recall campaign just missed the necessary vote tally last summer and the County Council has passed a vote of no confidence in him and asked for his resignation. Further, the county has paid $1.13 million in damages filed by former Washam employees.[22] In May of 2012, Washam announced he would run for re-election as Assessor-Treasurer. He joins a field of three other candidates for the post.[23]
Salaries
The following are the top 10 salaries in terms of gross pay in 2011:[24]
| Full Name | Job Title | Department | Pay Rate | Regular Pay | Overtime Pay | Total Gross Pay |
| Thomas Clark | Medical Examiner | Medical Ex | $126.66 | $228,021 | $0 | $228,021 |
| Jacquelyn Morhaime | Forensic Pathologist | Medical Ex | $114.28 | $200,314 | $0 | $200,314 |
| Miguel Balderrama | Physician/Medical Dir | Sheriff | $103.89 | $188,991 | $0 | $188,991 |
| Patrice McCarthy | Executive | Executive | $98.54 | $178,773 | $0 | $178,773 |
| Brian Ziegler | Dir-Pw & Utilities | Pub Wks/Trn | $97.12 | $176,675 | $0 | $176,675 |
| Kevin Phelps | Deputy County Executive | Executive | $88.14 | $159,985 | $0 | $159,985 |
| George Walk | Dir-Government Relations | Govt Reltns | $84.44 | $153,609 | $0 | $153,609 |
| Keri Rawlings-Rooney | Executive Director | Executive | $84.44 | $153,609 | $0 | $153,609 |
| Mark Lindquist | Prosecuting Attorney | Pros-Admin | $81.78 | $148,424 | $0 | $148,424 |
| Toby Rickman | Deputy Pw & Utilities Dir | Pub Wks/Trn | $80.71 | $146,823 | $0 | $146,823 |
Pensions
Pierce County employees are enrolled in the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS). Both the employee and the county make contributions. Depending on job function, employees are enrolled in Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System (LEOFF), or Public Safety Employees Retirement System (PSERS).[25]
Lobbying
So far in 2012, Pierce County has reported $30,000 spent on lobbying. [26]
| Year | Amount Spent on Lobbying |
| 2012 | $30,000 |
| 2011 | $120,000 |
| 2010 | $120,000 |
| 2009 | $150,000 |
| 2008 | $175,000 |
| 2007 | $175,000 |
| 2006 | $175,000 |
| 2005 | $140,000 |
| 2002 | $20,000 |
| 2001 | $40,000 |
| 2000 | $30,000 |
| Total | $1,175,000 |
Transparency & public records
Pierce County received national recognition for its online tools for getting building permits or electronic records in the criminal justice system. The awards were given by The National Association of Counties.[27]
Taxes
The main source of revenue in Pierce County is property taxes. The general property levy tax rate in 2012 is 1.3893.[28]
Emergency services
The following are the top 10 Sheriff's Department salaries terms of gross pay in 2011:[29]
| Full Name | Job Title | Department | Pay Rate | Regular Pay | Overtime Pay | Total Gross Pay |
| Miguel Balderrama | Physician/Medical Dir | Sheriff | $103.89 | $188,991 | $0 | $188,991 |
| Paul Pastor | Sheriff | Sheriff | $79.66 | $144,534 | $0 | $144,534 |
| Robert Masko | Bureau Chief | Sheriff | $73.32 | $144,049 | $0 | $144,049 |
| Richard Adamson | Bureau Chief | Sheriff | $73.32 | $144,049 | $0 | $144,049 |
| Trent Stephens | Sergeant Cpo L2-7 | Sheriff | $46.36 | $100,148 | $38,622 | $141,071 |
| Eileen Bisson | Undersheriff | Sheriff | $77.02 | $140,111 | $0 | $140,111 |
| Ki-Su Whiteford | Correctional Lieutenant | Sheriff | $48.98 | $98,882 | $40,633 | $139,514 |
| Michael Sperling | Correctional Lieutenant | Sheriff | $48.98 | $104,191 | $31,297 | $135,488 |
| Sheryl Beech | Correctional Lieutenant | Sheriff | $48.98 | $101,850 | $31,749 | $133,599 |
| Brian Ward | Sergeant Cpo L3-8 | Sheriff | $46.80 | $99,570 | $26,256 | $132,741 |
The following are the top 10 emergency management salaries terms of gross pay in 2011:[30]
External links
- Official Pierce County Website
- Pierce County Employee Pay. A database compiled by The News Tribune
References
- ↑ 2012 Budget
- ↑ Bids
- ↑ Budget
- ↑ Accounting
- ↑ Performance Audits
- ↑ Permits
- ↑ Planning Regulations
- ↑ Treasurer-Assessor
- ↑ Council
- ↑ Calendar
- ↑ Meetings
- ↑ Public Records
- ↑ 2012 Budget
- ↑ The News Tribune, Pierce County budget proposal includes no COLAs, more job cuts, Sept. 24, 2011
- ↑ 2012 Budget
- ↑ 2012 Budget
- ↑ Council
- ↑ The News Tribune, Dick Muri: Military man hopes he can lock down military district, May 28, 2012
- ↑ The News Tribune, Pierce County Councilman Stan Flemming declares for newly created 10th Congressional District, Dec. 28, 2011
- ↑ The News Tribune, County Council sends measure to voters requiring “supermajority” approval for new taxes, May 29, 2012
- ↑ County Executive
- ↑ The News Tribune, Washam defied ethics rules in push to unseat Lindquist, ruling states, April 18, 2012
- ↑ The News Tribune, Washam files for re-election as assessor-treasurer, May 18, 2012
- ↑ The News Tribune, Pierce County Employee Salaries
- ↑ Retirement
- ↑ Pierce County Lobbying Report
- ↑ Bonney Lake Sumner Courier-Herald, Pierce County wins award for online permit system and legal information network, JUNE 15, 2012
- ↑ Property Taxes
- ↑ The News Tribune, Pierce County Employee Salaries
- ↑ The News Tribune, Pierce County Employee Salaries
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