Council Legislation

Ordinance No. O2025-562s3

Title: An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Adopting the Biennial Budget of Pierce County for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027; and Setting an Effective Date.

Effective: January 1, 2026

Status: Passed

Sponsors: Councilmembers Jani Hitchen, Robyn Denson

Final votes

November 25, 2025
Nay Nay Nay Aye Aye Aye Aye


Documents
Additional legislative records are available below Collapse All  Expand All
 

Public Comments

Name Date Comment
Beth E Steeves 11/18/25 3:40 PM I support the 2026-2027 county budget to include an amendment funding the design of Pipeline Trail Phase 3. As a 25 year resident of the Summit Waller area, my family has an active history with the Pipeline Trail using the path for dog walking, bicycling including cycle commuting and even cross country skiing one very snowy winter. With the improvements of paving, lighting etc. in Phases 1 & 2 the trail is now accessible to more people allowing for more recreation and leisure use. I have introduced family, friends and co-works to the Pipeline Trail, many of which did not know it existed. All were impressed and enjoyed the trail. I urge the county to continue the momentum of advancing this trail via funding the Phase 3 design. I also urge the council to use this trail, and bring a friend or two, that we are so fortunate to have in our backyard. Thank you.
Ann jolie 11/23/25 4:18 PM Please do not approve this budget until you have found a way to fund our deputies and make our safety a priority. We are not happy that money is going to fund other projects when our safety is not a top priority. Find a way to help our sheriffs department. Do not ratify this budget.
Richard Folden 11/23/25 6:05 PM This budget absolutely should not be approved as is. We have been chronically understaffed with deputies for decades, the worst in the country, and now it’s getting worse because you haven’t paid them competitively. This is a crisis of your making and you are responsible for fixing it.
Timmothy 11/23/25 6:33 PM I don't feel that you are properly funding our pierce county sheriff. Your failure to properly fund the department will affect our community negatively and put people lives and property in danger please fund our officers
Beth Wulick 11/23/25 6:33 PM Public safety should be your priority not trails or parks. Fund the sheriff's department appropriately first.
Lynelle Anderson 11/23/25 6:49 PM I strongly urge the Council NOT to ratify the budget. It does not the reflect what the community wants in regards to public safety by ignoring the need to provide funds for the Sheriff’s Department. I’m tired of being afraid in my community because of the staffing crisis.
Chris Olson 11/23/25 6:53 PM Do not approve this proposal until you lock in a substantial amount of money for Public Safety!!!!!!!
Heather Peterson 11/23/25 6:56 PM Please fund the pierce county sheriffs dept.
Austin Nolan-Copple 11/23/25 6:56 PM We want our money spent on our deputies.
Josiah Copple 11/23/25 6:57 PM Please spend our money on more deputies
Austin Nolan Copple 11/23/25 6:59 PM Please spend our money on more deputies
Casey Peterson 11/23/25 7:00 PM Please fund the pierce county sheriff's dept.
E C 11/23/25 7:01 PM I strongly urge the Council to reject ratification of the proposed budget in its current form. This budget utterly fails to reflect the clear and repeated demands of our community for meaningful investment in public safety. By refusing to allocate adequate resources to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, the Council is deliberately ignoring a severe staffing crisis that has left deputies overextended and response times dangerously prolonged. I am tired—no, I am outraged—that residents must live in fear because basic law enforcement coverage has been allowed to erode. This is not a theoretical concern; it is a daily reality for families, business owners, and vulnerable citizens who expect their government to prioritize their safety. Your continued underfunding of the Sheriff’s Department is not merely shortsighted—it is reckless and indefensible. Every preventable crime, every delayed emergency response, and every life lost because a deputy was not available to answer a call will rest directly on the conscience and record of this Council. Public safety is the foundational responsibility of local government. Anything less than robust, unambiguous funding for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department is a betrayal of that duty and of the people you were elected to protect. Reject this inadequate budget. Fund the Sheriff’s Department at the level our community demands and deserves. Do not force us to pay for your inaction with our safety—or worse, with our lives.
Brian 11/23/25 7:02 PM Do not approve this budget. You need to fund the Sheriffs Office to protect our community.
Debbie Doll 11/23/25 7:02 PM Please oppose this budge proposal and direct funds to our Sheriff's Department. Many of us TAXPAYERS are paying a lot of our money to you and yet as a council to represent us are not directing our money/funds so that our Sheriff can hire MORE deputies. We need to be competitive in pay and we need our communities to be safe.
M. Hurley 11/23/25 7:02 PM I urge you to reject any budget proposal that fails to adequately fund our Sheriff’s Department. The County has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars by leaving critical positions unfilled, and those savings should be reinvested directly into fully supporting, staffing, and compensating our deputies. You get what you pay for, and our community deserves the very best. There is nothing preventing the County from paying our deputies what they are worth to ensure we can recruit and retain high-quality law enforcement professionals. It is well understood that preventing crime requires proactive policing. Unfortunately, with current staffing levels, our Sheriff’s Department can only respond reactively — and criminals are fully aware of this gap. Safety in our neighborhoods, rural communities, and throughout the County is not a partisan issue. Please stop allowing politics to jeopardize the security of the people you represent and ensure the Sheriff’s Department receives the funding it needs and deserves.
Isaac Stutes 11/23/25 7:03 PM Please do not ratify the budget without allocating more funds for the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. Our county desperately needs more deputies and as a resident, I’m tired of law enforcement taking a back seat to other agendas.
Chad Helligso 11/23/25 7:03 PM Don’t ratify this before completely funding the sheriffs department with a decent contract.
Carolyn Allen 11/23/25 7:03 PM Please prioritize public safety in Pierce County. Safety must come first.
Spencer 11/23/25 7:04 PM Public safety should be the top priority, and the current budget fails to adequately fund the Sheriff's Department. I believe funds allocated to other projects should be redirected to address this critical need and ensure proper staffing and compensation for our sheriff's department.
Brittney C 11/23/25 7:05 PM I strongly urge the Council to reject this budget outright. This proposal is an insult to every resident who has begged for real public safety priorities. It completely ignores the desperate need for adequate funding of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and leaves our communities exposed and vulnerable. On the Peninsula, we are down to just two deputies covering the entire area at night – two deputies for tens of thousands of people across hundreds of square miles. Two. That is not law enforcement coverage; that is abandonment. When a call comes in – a domestic violence assault, a home invasion, a medical emergency involving a child – those two deputies may already be committed hours away. Response times stretch to 30, 45, even 60 minutes or longer. That is not a statistic; that is terror. I am furious that I have to lie awake at night wondering whether help will arrive in time if my family needs it. I am furious that elderly neighbors live in fear of break-ins, that parents clutch their phones praying an officer is close enough if their teenager doesn’t come home, that business owners barricade doors because they know no one is coming quickly. Your refusal to properly fund the Sheriff’s Department is not a budgeting decision – it is a deliberate choice to leave us defenseless. Every preventable tragedy, every life lost because those two lone deputies could not be in two places at once, will be a direct consequence of this Council’s inaction. The responsibility will not be abstract; it will have names, families, and graves. Public safety is not a luxury item to be trimmed when budgets get tight – it is the fundamental reason government exists. Leaving an entire peninsula with only two deputies on the night shift is unconscionable and dangerous. Reject this shameful budget. Fully fund the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department. Give us the protection we pay for and desperately need – before the next headline proves what we have all been warning you about.
Kirsi Vivolin 11/23/25 7:06 PM I oppose!
Connor Hogan 11/23/25 7:07 PM Do not ratify this budget until more money is allocated towards funding the sheriffs office and a contract is finalized.
Bailee Hanson 11/23/25 7:09 PM Our community's safety should be top priority. Please find a way to adequately fund our Sheriff's Department and ensure our safety is top priority
Josiah Copple 11/23/25 7:10 PM We want our money used for our safety and towards funding our sheriffs department
Marc Nance 11/23/25 7:11 PM Please fund our Sheriff’s office properly
Kim Allison 11/23/25 7:13 PM Don’t ratify the budget unless they allocate more money to our sherrifs department
Martha Thompson 11/23/25 7:14 PM Do not approve this. PCSO needs the money instead. We are very understaffed and under paid.
Brandon 11/23/25 7:15 PM Here’s a polished rewording with the same message and tone: “Please refrain from approving this budget until adequate funding is secured for our deputies and public safety is made a priority. We are concerned that resources are being directed to other projects while our safety needs remain unmet. Please identify a solution that properly supports our Sheriff’s Department. Do not ratify this budget as it stands.”
Ashlee Hogan 11/23/25 7:15 PM I oppose this budget and encourage the council to allocate funds towards public safety. Pierce county is an absolute mess, and with the complete lack of support, citizens will begin taking things into their own hands. Community policing is an extremely serious thing and everyone should be DEEPLY CONCERNED by this.
Jordan Boyd 11/23/25 7:15 PM Tax payers money should be given to the sheriffs department. Keep the community safe!!!!
Sean R 11/23/25 7:15 PM I do not think this budget portrays the wants of the community. I urge you to reconsider what the community wants, which is to fund the Sheriff’s Office more.
Montana 11/23/25 7:15 PM I oppose this budget as written — please prioritize public safety by allocating more funding to support and retain our deputies
David Woodruff 11/23/25 7:18 PM I request that you do not approve this budget. You need to add funds to support the Sheriffs Office to protect our community.
Theodore L. Reinhart 11/23/25 7:18 PM I oppose on the grounds that the Pierce County Sheriff is not fully funded!! And until that is rectified, we should NOT be wasting money on charades like this.
Jan S 11/23/25 7:19 PM “I oppose the adoption of the proposed Biennial Budget for Fiscal Years 2026–2027. As presented in this ordinance, the budget does not provide adequate funding for public safety, a core responsibility of county government and essential to the well being of Pierce County residents. Public safety plays a fundamental role in maintaining community stability, ensuring timely emergency responses, protecting vulnerable populations, and supporting the overall quality of life. When public safety services are underfunded, every part of the community is impacted—from response times to preventative efforts that keep neighborhoods safe. Until the budget appropriately prioritizes and supports these critical services, it should not advance in its current form
Grace Bertram 11/23/25 7:22 PM OPPOSE this until Pierce County police can be funded and kept safe!!!!!
Craig Gocha 11/23/25 7:22 PM Do not vote to support this proposal as it doesn't not represent nor establishes the requirements needed for public safety within Pierce County. Any of the County Council Members' personal opinions of the current Sheriff should not dictate placing the Citizens of Pierce County at risk. Please consider the failure of this short sightedness and look to the current and long-term needs of this County and its Citizens. You all have to do better.
Chelsey Boccamazzo 11/23/25 7:23 PM Please do NOT approve this, I believe you should listen to our communities needs/wants. Our tax money that we pay into should be directed to our sheriffs department for community safety!
R E 11/23/25 7:23 PM Do not ratify this budget until you lock in a substantial amount of money for our Deputies and Public Safety!!
Tim T 11/23/25 7:23 PM I oppose this proposal. The county needs to take the safety of their public servants into mind when coming up with a budget.
Cody Ruth 11/23/25 7:27 PM STRONGLY oppose this. Pierce county is a mess, and our cops deserve the funding, so we can continue to keep our community safe.
Robert Hartnett 11/23/25 7:29 PM Pierce County Sheriff Department needs to be more robustly funded. Currently Pierce County Is one of the lowest staffed law enforcement agencies in the entire nation per 1000 citizens. The officers need increases to base salaries to match or exceed King County.
N.Hurley 11/23/25 7:30 PM I oppose this budget and urge the County Council to immediately support our Sheriff’s Department with competitive retention and hiring bonuses. Our county is now the lowest-staffed in the nation, and crime is worsening by the day. Despite our property taxes doubling over the past decade, our public safety services have declined, leaving residents increasingly vulnerable. The power to fix this lies squarely in the hands of the executive, and blaming the Sheriff has become an easy scapegoat that distracts from real solutions. We also ask that you refuse to ratify any budget that fails to include meaningful investment in public safety. It’s vital that we support the deputies who protect our community before the situation deteriorates further.
Christian Hansen 11/23/25 7:34 PM Don't ratify until there's more money for pierce county sheriff's department
Kim holt 11/23/25 7:34 PM Oppose! How can you bring in more housing and updates to a golf course when you don’t have the deputies to protect it.
Mary Priebe-Olson 11/23/25 7:41 PM Public safety is your number one priority. Fully fund the sheriffs office and pay them what they deserve! If not get in a patrol car and start doing the job. You need to help the citizens that you are supposed to working and advocating for!!
Chrystle 11/23/25 7:41 PM Please allocate funds for safety! Our sheriffs need to be paid! Fund our pierce county sheriffs department!
Liana Rowland 11/23/25 7:43 PM I vehemently oppose this budget. Pierce County is a disaster due to the Council's lack of public safety support. This neglect forces citizens toward dangerous self-policing—an extremely serious crisis that warrants DEEP CONCERN. Allocate funds to public safety immediately.
Myndee Stock 11/23/25 7:45 PM More money for Deputies.
Stock Pete 11/23/25 7:46 PM More money to deputies
Lori Dougherty 11/23/25 7:49 PM Do not approve the budget as proposed….we need more funding for our deputies!
Kevan Hogan 11/23/25 7:50 PM This legislation lacks an imperative move to supply more funding to the Sheriffs department of our county. They are in a staffing crisis caused by a combination of the lack of competitive pay and the danger that comes with the job/area they cover. Do not pass this legislation. As a resident of Pierce County I oppose this proposal.
Rob L 11/23/25 7:51 PM Do not ratify this proposal until more money is allocated to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. The county will continue to be an unsafe place to live until public safety is prioritized.
B. Johnson 11/23/25 7:52 PM This proposal is a major waste of tax payer money. If approved, the council and executive will show they are willing to ignore the #1 problem the county has had for years in order to fund their pet projects. The Sheriff’s Office is at a breaking point and so are the citizens. Either fully fund the sheriff’s office, or give us our money back so we don’t have to watch our money go to more failed projects. How is it even possible that our law enforcement are working with the same staffing levels they were in the 90’s? The council is acting as if they have the luxury to focus on anything else. They don’t. If you are going to spend our money, start by bringing our Sheriff’s office at least into the 21st century. Oppose this proposal or cement your legacy as a failure.
Lloyd Bird 11/23/25 7:54 PM Strongly against any budget that does not take into consideration increasing the funds to get more Deputies to be able to respond to calls for service.
Bobbie Deskins 11/23/25 7:57 PM Oppose
Nina 11/23/25 7:59 PM PCSO used to be a premier agency. This is a disgrace. Soon you’ll have no police left to help 100,00+ citizens. Do better.
C Crain 11/23/25 7:59 PM Strongly encourage rejection of the budget proposal. Gig Harbor is a progressive community which means to me that funding our Sheriff and deputies should be a top priority. Consider budget revisions so that our public protectors are well supported.
Susan Roberts 11/23/25 8:00 PM I am asking that you respectfully somehow find a way to fund pierce County Sheriffs department. We have lost many officers to other departments leaving the area west of the Narrows bridge woefully unprotected and our safety greatly at risk. Crime is up and police are not fairly paid by the county. This should be your TOP priority.
Michaela Johnson 11/23/25 8:06 PM This proposal does not properly fund the Sheriff’s Office. Strongly oppose.
Austin F 11/23/25 8:07 PM Do not ratify this budget until more money is allocated towards funding the Sheriffs Office and a contract is finalized.
Kelly Toy 11/23/25 8:09 PM Please allocate more money to pay county officers. We need to have police support on our community.
Marty 11/23/25 8:10 PM I oppose this budget. Our safety is more important than any of your pet projects. Pay our deputies and bring PCSO up to staffing levels that enhance our communities and protect our deputies
Austin Drew Finley 11/23/25 8:11 PM Do not ratify this budget until more money is allocated towards funding the sheriffs office and a contract is finalized.
Erika Hanson 11/23/25 8:13 PM Please do not fund this proposal until you fund our safety and incentivize our sheriff's department for more employees i.e. officers!
Clinton Thomas 11/23/25 8:14 PM Do not ratify the budget unless it allocates more money to the sheriffs department
Wylie Thornton 11/23/25 8:15 PM Please fund the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.
AS 11/23/25 8:15 PM There is no point in improving public spaces if none of us feel safe using them. Stop letting Tacoma steal our officers! Support the sheriff’s department.
Bryan Ashmore 11/23/25 8:19 PM It is shocking and disappointing to see that there are no provisions or solutions being put forth to address the staffing crisis within the Sheriff's Office. This budget proposal should be held until it addresses the public safety concerns of the people.
Larissa Thomas 11/23/25 8:19 PM Do not ratify the budget unless they allocate more money to our sheriffs department.
Gabriel Bol 11/23/25 8:19 PM I am asking the council to vote no on the proposed 2026 county budget because it does not include any increase for the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. Our deputies are understaffed overworked and underpaid. We have lost almost 30 deputies to other agencies that offer better pay and better support. Every time we lose a trained deputy the county loses experience and service that cannot be replaced without real investment. The people of Pierce County deserve a strong and reliable sheriffs office. They expect fast response times safe communities and deputies who are able to do their jobs without being pushed to the breaking point. None of that is possible without enough staffing. And staffing will not improve when pay is far below what other agencies offer. It is clear that the county executive does not support a pay increase for the sheriffs office. But the executive does not speak for the people on this issue. The voters expect the council to support public safety and to support the deputies who show up every day for this county. If we want to keep the deputies we have and bring in new qualified applicants we must offer competitive wages. Without that the service the public receives will continue to decline. I urge the council to reject this budget and require a revised version that includes real funding for the sheriffs office. Public safety cannot be done on the cheap. The people of Pierce County deserve better and the deputies who serve them deserve better. Please vote no on this budget until it provides the pay and staffing needed to deliver the level of service our community expects.
Kaleb Shelton-Johnson 11/23/25 8:20 PM When there is no financial incentive to stay at a law enforcement agency and deputies are placed at greater risk due to low staffing, the logical conclusion is that they would transfer to a place where they are better paid and supported. That’s what has been happening here. Pay the deputies what they deserve and make this a competitive place to work. It will make our communities safer as a result.
Clint Thomas 11/23/25 8:20 PM I oppose this until there is more money allocated to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.
Jared Levitt 11/23/25 8:20 PM This budget fails to fulfill the core obligations of county government. The Sheriff’s office is down nearly 50 deputies, which is the steep part of the slope leading to a full blown public safety crisis. Fix it. Pay the deputies competitively with their peers so the stop leaving. If you wait until more go, it’ll be too late and take even longer to fix.
Samantha Coombs 11/23/25 8:20 PM Done not ratify the budget unless they allocate more money to our sheriffs department.
Mariah Thomas 11/23/25 8:21 PM Do not ratify the budget unless they allocate more money to our sheriffs department.
Mary Bol 11/23/25 8:21 PM I am asking the council to vote no on the proposed 2026 county budget because it does not include any increase for the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. Our deputies are understaffed overworked and underpaid. We have lost almost 30 deputies to other agencies that offer better pay and better support. Every time we lose a trained deputy the county loses experience and service that cannot be replaced without real investment. The people of Pierce County deserve a strong and reliable sheriffs office. They expect fast response times safe communities and deputies who are able to do their jobs without being pushed to the breaking point. None of that is possible without enough staffing. And staffing will not improve when pay is far below what other agencies offer. It is clear that the county executive does not support a pay increase for the sheriffs office. But the executive does not speak for the people on this issue. The voters expect the council to support public safety and to support the deputies who show up every day for this county. If we want to keep the deputies we have and bring in new qualified applicants we must offer competitive wages. Without that the service the public receives will continue to decline. I urge the council to reject this budget and require a revised version that includes real funding for the sheriffs office. Public safety cannot be done on the cheap. The people of Pierce County deserve better and the deputies who serve them deserve better. Please vote no on this budget until it provides the pay and staffing needed to deliver the level of service our community expects.
Clinton Thomas 11/23/25 8:22 PM Do not ratify the budget unless they allocate more money to our sheriffs department.
Jay C Krusen 11/23/25 8:22 PM We own property off of Crescent Valley Rd in Pierce county - Please, please find our law enforcement!!
Lindsay 11/23/25 8:23 PM Please redirect funding to properly staff the Sheriff’s Department. Community safety should be a top priority, and the current budget does not adequately address it.
Austen B 11/23/25 8:26 PM The top priority should be funding public safety. The staffing levels are getting to emergency numbers with deputies still leaving to other agencies due to pay and benefits. I can not believe we are still having this discussion with the crime rates being as they are. Public safety is not a political issue, every one wants to be safe in their communities.
Jenelle 11/23/25 8:26 PM I do not support ratifying the proposed budget until there are provisions to address the staffing and wage crisis in the sheriff's department. Our county is becoming less and less safe as law enforcement officers are forced to go to other departments in order to provide for their families, and to be supported by their local councils. PCSO has been functioning significantly below minimum staffing for years and years, and refusing to pay them fairly is making the problem far worse. Claiming there isn't money in the budget for them is dishonest and unwise. Meaningful public safety needs to be prioritized and that starts by supporting the men and women who risk everything to help others be safe.
Renae 11/23/25 8:27 PM council to not ratify the budget unless they allocate more money to our sheriffs department.
Carissa Ross 11/23/25 8:30 PM Do not ratify the budget unless they allocate more money to our sheriffs department.
Devon 11/23/25 8:33 PM I am asking the council to vote no on the proposed 2026 county budget because it does not include any increase for the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. Our deputies are understaffed overworked and underpaid. We have lost almost 30 deputies to other agencies that offer better pay and better support. Every time we lose a trained deputy the county loses experience and service that cannot be replaced without real investment. The people of Pierce County deserve a strong and reliable sheriffs office. They expect fast response times safe communities and deputies who are able to do their jobs without being pushed to the breaking point. None of that is possible without enough staffing. And staffing will not improve when pay is far below what other agencies offer. It is clear that the county executive does not support a pay increase for the sheriffs office. But the executive does not speak for the people on this issue. The voters expect the council to support public safety and to support the deputies who show up every day for this county. If we want to keep the deputies we have and bring in new qualified applicants we must offer competitive wages. Without that the service the public receives will continue to decline. I urge the council to reject this budget and require a revised version that includes real funding for the sheriffs office. Public safety cannot be done on the cheap. The people of Pierce County deserve better and the deputies who serve them deserve better. Please vote no on this budget until it provides the pay and staffing needed to deliver the level of service our community expects.
James Rubie 11/23/25 8:33 PM I do not want my tax dollars spent to approve this budget without properly allocating funds needed to competitively pay sheriffs deputies and fully staff Pierce county Sheriffs department.
michael Spurrier 11/23/25 8:34 PM It is incomprehensible that The County Council members, elected to serve the people, would not vote no on this Ordinance. This places comfort convenience above the safety of those of us that depend on the Sheriff’s department for our Public Safety. I strongly urge the County Council to reject this Ordinance and begin the process of funding our Sheriff’s department at a level they can replace the Officers lost. You cannot expect to retain Law Enforcement Officers paying the lowest wage in the Nation. Please vote no.
Wanda Schwartz 11/23/25 8:36 PM Please do not ratify the budget until you have allocated more funds for hiring and retaining deputies with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. The PCSO has the lowest staffing ratio to population in the nation, and with so many deputies fleeing to Tacoma for the higher pay, it will continue to decline. Deputies in the detachments are responsible for covering large swaths of the county. There are often only 2 deputies on duty overnight for an area from the outskirts of South Hill to Mt. Rainier. Meanwhile, alerts asking deputies to work overtime are sent out frequently, and the remaining staff are having to work longer hours with fewer days off, leading to burnout or driving them to other agencies. Pierce County is a growing, vibrant place and our county leaders need to budget and plan for the current and future law enforcement needs of this region rather than trying to fund it at outdated levels that compare it to areas that are much less populous with lower crime statistics.
Rachel Rempt 11/23/25 8:37 PM We were the victims of a home burglary and car theft this year, and strongly oppose any budget that does not substantially increase funding for our law enforcement! Our tax dollars are not being used for community safety and our family suffered greatly as a result! Please DO NOT approve this without listening to your taxpayers' needs. We don't want other families to be the victims of criminals who are operating with more and more impunity, knowing there is a shortage of law enforcement. We are NOT protected and this is NOT okay! Please act in the interest of our safety NOW!
Teresa 11/23/25 8:38 PM Please consider the effects of both long and short term inadequate funding to policing in our area. As activity continues to increase and enforcement decreases it becomes an increasingly difficult resolution. The taxes in this area are adequate to fund law enforcement. Please start making community safety a top priority.
Pamela K Kintzler Graham 11/23/25 8:41 PM Do not ratify the budget unless they allocate more money to our much needed sheriffs department!!
Renee 11/23/25 8:43 PM Public safety is #1! Do not spend anymore of our tax money until more police officers are hired for Pierce county.
Stephen Schwartz 11/23/25 8:45 PM I wrote to Mr. Mello months ago to express my concerns about the wage and benefit disparities between the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies in the area that compete with PCSO for recruiting, hiring, and retaining officers/deputies. He answered with a statement that he valued and prioritized public safety. His assertions are not credible, however, when our deputies are still working without a contract and the county refuses to offer the compensation required to keep our deputies here. We have lost dozens of them to Tacoma PD and other agencies, and are in a staffing-induced public safety crisis. Fund our sheriff’s office properly, before even more of our best public servants leave.
Lisa Powell 11/23/25 8:50 PM Do NOT pass this unless you allocate more for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department
Benjamin Zerngast 11/23/25 8:51 PM We need support for our deputies before all else. Safety is one of the basic human needs.
Brandon Figueira 11/23/25 9:02 PM I don't feel that you are properly funding our pierce county sheriff. Your failure to properly fund the department will affect our community negatively and put people lives and property in danger please fund our officers
Candis Medak 11/23/25 9:06 PM The citizens of unincorporated Pierce County deserve to live in a place where police response is met in a timely manner. Our deputies are overworked and definitely underpaid. Please consider supporting our local law enforcement in the name of public safety!!! We all deserve better!!!
Steve Powell 11/23/25 9:08 PM Do not ratify budget unless funds are allocated towards sheriff's department
Lynn Hedberg 11/23/25 9:15 PM 100% oppose!!!
Sonja Carlin 11/23/25 9:19 PM DO NOT approve this budget. It is reckless to approve a budget without adequate compensation for the Sheriff Dept and pay increases for Deputies. This will result in an unsafe community and resulting liabilities.
Tyler Reid 11/23/25 9:25 PM I vehemently oppose this proposal. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is losing deputies at an alarming rate. Citizens will suffer and calls for service will stack without a competitive wage and better benefits for Deputies. Trails and Parks take a back seat when it comes to the public safety of all the citizens of Pierce County. If you have any decency what so ever then DO NOT RATIFY this proposal.
Cameron Eckhaus 11/23/25 9:32 PM Please do not ratify the budget without allocating more funds for the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. Our county desperately needs more deputies and as a resident, I’m tired of law enforcement taking a back seat to other agendas.
Lara L Voecks 11/23/25 9:35 PM Reject this shameful budget. Fully fund the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department so that we stop losing officers to city police forces. This proposal completely ignores the desperate need for adequate funding of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and leaves our communities exposed and vulnerable. On the Peninsula, we are down to just two deputies covering the entire area at night – two deputies for tens of thousands of people across hundreds of square miles. Two. That is not law enforcement coverage; that is abandonment. When a call comes in – a domestic violence assault, a home invasion, a medical emergency involving a child – those two deputies may already be committed hours away. Response times stretch to 30, 45, even 60 minutes or longer. That is not a statistic; that is terror. Leaving an entire peninsula with only two deputies on the night shift is unconscionable and dangerous.
Donavan Torres 11/23/25 9:42 PM This budget does not provide adequate resources for staffing for public safety. Opposed.
Amy Baumgardner 11/23/25 9:59 PM Please vote no on this proposal until Pierce County fixes the obvious problem. We keep funneling money into side projects while our sheriff deputies stay underpaid, understaffed, and stretched to the brink. Public safety is not a luxury. It is the core of a functioning community, and right now we are failing the people who protect us. Handle that first or stop expecting the public to take any new spending priorities seriously.
Anya Phillips 11/23/25 9:59 PM The safety of our community should be a top priority. The allocation of funds for law-enforcement, that is already severely understaffed, should take precedence. Having the appropriate number of officers in the department is highly important.
Chris kelley 11/23/25 10:03 PM Please reject this proposal until you address the real crisis in Pierce County. Our sheriff deputies are struggling to keep up because you continue to fund everything except the people who keep our communities safe. Response times are slipping, morale is dropping, and residents are paying the price. If you want to spend money, start by investing in the department that holds the entire county together. Until that happens, this deserves a hard no.
Sarah Wolverton 11/23/25 10:10 PM DO NOT approve this budget until the Sheriffs department is funded. You have my tax money and I demand it be used for sheriff and safety.
Mark W Humes 11/23/25 10:23 PM Do not pass budget untill our law enforcement officers are fairly compensated,at least as much as Tacoma police...
Brad Crawford 11/23/25 10:23 PM More money needs to be allocated to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, specifically paying our Deputies or we will continue to see a mass exodus of experienced LE serving our county.
Brian Fishkin 11/23/25 10:29 PM I urge the council to Not Approve the proposed Biennial Budget for Fiscal Years 2026–2027 as presented in this ordinance. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department is severely understaffed due to lateral transfers to other agencies. Low pay and high burnout are two significant factors causing Deputies to leave the County for other departments. And why wouldn’t they? They work harder and longer, have less (or no) backup, and they earn less than their peers in neighboring communities. It is clear that the statutory comparators used to determine equitable pay for Pierce County Deputies does not fully consider the work conditions they face, or the quality of life factors of having neighboring police departments that offer significant bonuses and salary increases for new and lateral hires. Please make it a priority to offer a competitive pay and benefits package to incentivize hiring and retaining Pierce County Deputies.
Sally Hougham 11/23/25 10:33 PM Please please please allocate more money to our Pierce County sheriffs department for hiring and pay. We are desperate!
Adriana Siolo-Kaisa 11/23/25 10:49 PM Please do not approve this budget until a solution is found to properly fund our deputies and prioritize our community’s safety. It is deeply concerning to see money allocated to other projects while essential safety needs remain unmet. We are asking you to support and strengthen our Sheriff’s Department. Do not ratify this budget as it stands.
bruce monell 11/23/25 10:54 PM This budget continues to underfund the Sheriffs Dept. which puts all your constituents,who your supposed to represent, at high risk and will be remembered at the next election!!
Brenda watrrs 11/23/25 10:59 PM I do not support this proposal. We cannot afford to lose more deputies , there is a shortage as it is now . We pay some of the highest taxes here with the worst coverage . Stop bowing to special interest groups and support our deputies instead .
Desiree Carson 11/23/25 11:05 PM Tax dollars should be funding critical services, including an adequate number of qualified cops. Our ratio to population is critical to response times.
Caasi 11/23/25 11:07 PM Our safety is a priority. Please allocate more money to our Pierce County sheriffs department for hiring and pay
Daniel Deyo 11/23/25 11:15 PM This budget should not be considered until you look at the Sheriffs department. Our deputy’s are struggling to make ends meet while working over time as well. The pay is too low to fully fill the vacancies and their overall budget is far too low to keep them safe. If Seattle can pay their starting officer 6 figures. Pierce can make this work as well and have even better deputies.
Desiree Perry 11/23/25 11:39 PM Please do not ratify the budget without allocating more funds for the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. Our county desperately needs more deputies and as a resident, I’m tired of law enforcement taking a back seat to other agendas.
Zoey Harp 11/24/25 12:13 AM Do not ratify the budget unless they allocate more money to our sheriffs department
Patrice Justice 11/24/25 1:04 AM Please pay the sheriff's more
Shannon Beaubier 11/24/25 2:09 AM We have a serious drug and car theft problem in this County! It is ridiculous to approve this budget without figuring out how to fund our deputies that we have better and hire more. They are not enough of them and they are underpaid. Do better Pierce County! You know they will be the first people running to help you or one of your family members in an unsafe or dangerous situation even if it means risking their lives. You should support and pay them like your life depends on it because one day it may!
Clarissa M 11/24/25 2:13 AM I oppose this budget proposal! We need a better budget for our deputies! They are what keep us safe. Prioritize our safety by funding our deputies better!
R Johnson 11/24/25 2:14 AM I oppose the budget as written.We need more sheriffs FIRST then recreation will be safe for everyone! Please provide more money for more sheriffs
Meredeth Kessack 11/24/25 2:19 AM My household does not support this as written please re-evaluate and figure out a way to better support our sheriff's. We support better protection (ie better pay for sheriff's and more sheriff's) for our family and community.
JESSICA GERMAN-DOHERTY 11/24/25 4:20 AM Pierce county is not appropriately funding out Pierce county sheriff's department, and it is putting lives at risk. Please reconsider and fund comparable to the city departments.
Sarah Garriott 11/24/25 4:50 AM Please reject the budget as proposed until safety has been put first, where it belongs. Please fully fund the Sheriff's request for his budget first. We elected you to be responsible first and foremost in using our tax dollars to protect our families and businesses. This should always be the number one priority in our county budget: fully funding our first responders. Please get these priorities straight. What an embarrassment and a disgrace to be the worst staffed in the Nation. That must mean this is the worst County Council in the nation. You can change that right now. Be the best. Fully fund our Sheriff's Department and protect our families.
Cindy Schumacher 11/24/25 5:33 AM There is NO WAY this budget should be approved without the proper funds for public safety. Our Sheriffs department need to be appropriately funded and are not. .We need more law enforcement not less.
Steve Kasal 11/24/25 5:36 AM All members of the council should be voted out for allowing the sheriff’s budget to have staffing levels that endanger public safety . Its a reflection of the Democratic Party’s commitment to law enforcement.
Branden Bol 11/24/25 5:40 AM To the council, do not ratify the budget unless you allocate more money to the sheriff's department.
Patti Wold 11/24/25 6:02 AM Funding of law enforcement should be a high level priority in this budget. Please ensure that funding for law enforcement covers restoring the number of LE personnel to 2024 levels and covers training, resources, and support of these critical positions.
Julie Tappero 11/24/25 6:08 AM I ask you to please not pass a County budget that doesn't prioritize public safety. The Sheriff's Department needs to be properly funded so our deputies can be compensated at a rate that attracts and retains talent. You aren't doing that now. I believe I deserve to be safe in my home. Don't you agree?
Haley 11/24/25 6:09 AM Please do not approve this budget until you have found a way to fund our deputies and make our safety a priority. Find a way to help our sheriffs department.
Dustin Springer 11/24/25 6:12 AM I strongly oppose this bill because unincorporated Pierce County residents already shoulder some of the region’s highest property taxes, yet our sheriff’s department continues to face a critical staffing crisis. While our taxes climb, we receive inadequate law enforcement coverage, especially in our rural neighborhoods. Instead of new spending or unfunded mandates, the focus should be on stabilizing sheriff staffing to ensure public safety matches our tax investment.
Maureen T Reilly 11/24/25 6:26 AM I am an avid hiker myself and love to have places to take my dogs. However, it seems ludicrous to me to pass a budget that does not adequately fund the sheriff's department but does fund a trail continuation. Where are our priorities? Please do not pass this budget as it stands.
Stan Palmer 11/24/25 6:36 AM Please reject the Budget until additional funding is provided for the Sheriff’s Dept. to increase hiring for Pierce County. Safety of residents is being ignored in the budget, with no plan and no funding to increase the salaries for Doritos retention and increase the number of law enforcement personnel. The time is now, public safety is at risk!
mary kasal 11/24/25 6:41 AM Council should be ashamed of themselves for allowing the sheriffs staffing levels to be the lowest in the nation. Its a reflection of the democratic party policies. Fund the sheriffs department to reflect median funding across the nation.
Cody Peterson 11/24/25 6:48 AM Our Sheriffs dept. needs funding to keep the citizens safe and our property protected! This should be considered a priority before moving forward!
Dariel Cummins 11/24/25 6:54 AM I oppose this. We need to include more funding for our law-enforcement. We are losing good, qualified, deputies and staff because of budget cuts and a lack of funding. This puts our community at a higher risk of violence and danger.
Charles Dennis 11/24/25 6:56 AM Don’t approve your budget without allocating new resources and funding to the Sheriff and fix the staffing problem for PCSD
Rich Phillips 11/24/25 6:57 AM Please increase funding for hiring, training and giving raises to Pierce County Sherriff's!! We want safety to be a priority.
Cathy Phillips 11/24/25 7:01 AM Please allow more adequate funding for Pierce County Sherriff's so we can keep and attract more officers to keep our Fierce County safer!!
Seth Eisenberg 11/24/25 7:07 AM increase budget for sheriff positions
Zachary Motch 11/24/25 7:19 AM More money needs to be allocated to the Sheriffs Department. As we have seen we are losing deputy’s to other agencies with higher pay. The department needs these funds to retain staff.
Shana Alton 11/24/25 7:22 AM Please allocate more money to our Pierce County Sheriff’s department for hiring and pay.
Brilynn Salmon 11/24/25 7:31 AM I noticed that there are no provisions listed to pay deputies. Please look out for our police officers because I can not have my family live in a place that is not safe and well staffed by police.
Natalie Parker 11/24/25 7:36 AM Please please please use tax payers dolllars to help support the safety of Gig Harbor and unincorporated Gig Harbor. We need our streets/ homes safe. Please assist in making the wages for these police personnel attainable so they feel supported so they don’t leave for another city that is paying higher wages.
Robin Carter 11/24/25 7:42 AM Please DO NOT approve the Proposed Ordinance No. 02025-562s3. As duly elected officials who took an Oath of Office under Pierce Count Charter, Sec 9.55 to “…support and defend the Constitution of the United States…”, you have a God-given responsibility and duty to uphold the “Rule of Law” for the safety of our citizens. The Constitution Establishes it; Assumes it; Operates through it; Requires Officials to uphold it; Prevents arbitrary or personal rule; and most importantly; Provides Due Process and Equal Protection. “Equal Protection” of our County Citizens is tied directly to “Equal Compensation of Pay” for our Deputy Sheriffs. We’re counting on your Integrity to follow through and vote NO on this proposed ordinance. Thank You for your service in protecting ALL of our Citizens!
Nichole Gray 11/24/25 7:43 AM Fix our understaffed police force before discussing any budget or policy changes.
Kari Lambert 11/24/25 7:45 AM Do Not Approve this budget. We need our police to be funded. Stop wasting our tax dollars and pay the Sheriff's what they are worth. Our safety on the Key Peninsula is bad enough now and will get worse if you don't support the Police.
Annica Baker 11/24/25 7:48 AM I do not support this prioridad until funding can be found to properly support our deputies and local law enforcement. This is a matter of safety and security and should be treated with the highest priority and regard. We love this little town and want it to continue to be safe.
Robert Stuart 11/24/25 7:54 AM Oppose budget until Sheriff fully funded.
Jay Becker 11/24/25 7:55 AM Do not approve this budget - it is vital that you first fund the Pierce County Sheriffs Department. This is a critical mandate to the safety of our County. The tax money used to build the budget must first be used to support this dept
Juanita Carbaugh 11/24/25 8:00 AM Please do not pass this without increased funding for the Sheriff’s department. We do not have adequate public safety support.
Amy Weisser 11/24/25 8:02 AM PLEASE VOTE FOR FUNDING FOR MORE DEPUTIES!!! Safety should be a priority!! Please prioritize our safety
Craig McKelvey 11/24/25 8:03 AM Please do not change the budget without supporting First Responders including PCSO. Please help keep us safe by supporting ALL First Responders.
Kim Henson 11/24/25 8:06 AM Please fund our police departments.
William Brown 11/24/25 8:07 AM I strongly oppose passing any budget that does not first secure the public safety of its residents. Pierce County must prioritize public safety and our sheriff and deputies.
Jeremy K Bennett 11/24/25 8:08 AM ANY BUDGET NOT INCREASING PAY FOR PIERCE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMENSURATE WITH SURROUNDING AREAS SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY VOTED DOWN! We do not have enough Deputies to serve our area, and our tax money is collected right alongside other residents. COVID is over, use that $30 million to increase pay for our Deputy positions!!!!
Pamela Holt 11/24/25 8:09 AM I strongly urge the Council to reject this budget outright. This proposal is an insult to every resident who has begged for real public safety priorities. It completely ignores the desperate need for adequate funding of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and leaves our communities exposed and vulnerable. On the Peninsula, we are down to just two deputies covering the entire area at night – two deputies for tens of thousands of people across hundreds of square miles. Two. That is not law enforcement coverage; that is abandonment. When a call comes in – a domestic violence assault, a home invasion, a medical emergency involving a child – those two deputies may already be committed hours away. Response times stretch to 30, 45, even 60 minutes or longer. That is not a statistic; that is terror. I am furious that I have to lie awake at night wondering whether help will arrive in time if my family needs it. I am furious that elderly neighbors live in fear of break-ins, that parents clutch their phones praying an officer is close enough if their teenager doesn’t come home, that business owners barricade doors because they know no one is coming quickly. Your refusal to properly fund the Sheriff’s Department is not a budgeting decision – it is a deliberate choice to leave us defenseless. Every preventable tragedy, every life lost because those two lone deputies could not be in two places at once, will be a direct consequence of this Council’s inaction. The responsibility will not be abstract; it will have names, families, and graves. Public safety is not a luxury item to be trimmed when budgets get tight – it is the fundamental reason government exists. Leaving an entire peninsula with only two deputies on the night shift is unconscionable and dangerous. Reject this shameful budget. Fully fund the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department. Give us the protection we pay for and desperately need – before the next headline proves what we have all been warning you about.
Jon 11/24/25 8:09 AM Do not approve this budget. We need to fund the Sheriffs Office to protect our community.
Angela Frantz 11/24/25 8:17 AM When you represent the people, your highest priority should be to provide for their safety. I work in Senior Living and when the state comes in for inspection, the first question they ask is what do you do to keep your residents safe? Shouldn’t this be the question you ask yourself every day? Please oppose this and support our Sheriff’s department.
Mark Waters 11/24/25 8:20 AM We live in one of the most populated counties in the state, and it is growing at an unprecedented rate, yet our Law Enforcement staffing numbers, per capita, are some of the worst in the COUNTRY. Based on our current tax rate, this is almost beyond comprehension. Instead of using our tax dollars for special interest projects, it’s time our policy makers act in a reasonable, responsible and prudent manner and make public safety their first priority. Saying they are doing so, without funding allocation numbers and putting forward a competitive contract is nothing more than lying to their constituents.
David B 11/24/25 8:21 AM I reject approving this budget. You have plenty of my miney and I want it spent on deputies for our safety. Apparently Robyn Denson does not take this seriously….she says one thing and does another…reparations instead of our safety? Pierce County has plenty of money…she just hisses to spend it on wasteful items.
Tom Martin 11/24/25 8:22 AM Please do not pass this budget until the welfare of the citizens are made a priority. You need to adequately fund those who serve public safety - the Pierce County Sheriff Deputies.
Rachel Krauskopf 11/24/25 8:29 AM Unincorporated Gig Harbor is under your power and jurisdiction and we don’t have enough police support. We have families and elderly grandparents and pay taxes. Remember us when you vote tomorrow and honor public servants by paying your police fair and adequate and generous salaries so they want to work in your county and protect your people. If crime goes up, people will leave and you will lose taxes.
Connie Reeves 11/24/25 8:30 AM If we lose most of our sheriffs department then our crime level will increase significantly. Don’t let this happen. We need to fund our sheriffs.
Greg Pressel 11/24/25 8:36 AM Do not pass this without finding funding for our deputies first.
Marce Nance 11/24/25 8:36 AM I oppose this budget because our sheriffs are so underfunded. Please fund our sheriffs department now!
Fran Link 11/24/25 8:38 AM Please oppose this proposal - more funds need to be allocated to our sheriff department and public safety should always be number one priority.
Mari Stenhaug 11/24/25 8:43 AM It is my understanding that, without the presence of a well funded sheriff's office,the areas become unsafe and out of control -- a true wild west. Please staff and budget for a well maintained sheriff's office. No one should feel those shortcomings. Thank you.
BNG 11/24/25 8:52 AM Listen to your constituents and do not approve until the Pierce Co Sheriffs Department has proper funding to fully staff and protect our community. The safety of our community should be of the upmost priority to our county leaders. Many times, for those of us in the greater Gig Harbor area, our calls and pleas for help go unanswered because there are not enough resources to assist. We pay a significant amount in taxes and we want our voices heard and our deputies to be paid a competitive wage and to be fully staffed.
Arthur T Heitlauf Jr 11/24/25 8:58 AM The budget must fully and fairly fund the Sheriff’s department before it is approved. I pay a lot of tax dollars to Pierce County and I demand they be used appropriately for the Sheriff’s department and our safety.
Pamela Darby 11/24/25 9:04 AM Do NOT ratify the budget unless more money is allocated to our Sherriff's Department.
Lori Cummins 11/24/25 9:14 AM Please do NOT ratify this budget without increase pay to the sheriffs department . We owe it to our deputies to receive increased pay so we do not lose any more. To my understanding, we are the least law enforcement county in United States per capita of people and that is unacceptable. We need to pay our law enforcement well for all of the hard work, sacrifice and their willingness to put their life on the line for our protection . And not only do we need to pay them well, but we need to have funds allocated to help higher more for our task forces . They are public servants, and we are here to support them and make sure they receive a great compensation for all that they do for us. It is not fair for our law-enforcement to be blamed for slow response times when it is because they do not have the support system from the county council to provide them the help that is needed by having more law-enforcement deputies and all that is needed for them to be able to do their jobs appropriately.
Kim Edwards 11/24/25 9:16 AM You taxed us for SAFETY $$$ now spend that $$$ on SAFETY. Typical Lefty bait and switch eith our money going to the general fund. Theft!
Glenn Stewart 11/24/25 9:28 AM Please fund our police departments
Diane Pearson 11/24/25 9:29 AM I oppose this budget. We need funding to support our severely understaffed Pierce County Sheriff's Department. Our public safety is of vital importance to us.
Michael Braun 11/24/25 9:35 AM I oppose this proposal as it lacks adequate funding for the Sheriff’s department.
Joyce Walstrom 11/24/25 9:44 AM I strongly encourage the Council to reject the ratification of the budget in its current form. Public safety should be TOP PRIORITY in Pierce County!
Antje Balles 11/24/25 10:18 AM The funds need yo go to the sheriff department. Please count is understaffed and staff is underpaid.
Naomi Lundberg 11/24/25 10:29 AM Do not approve this budget until our Sheriff/law enforcement is fully funded to protect our community!
Russell Haydon 11/24/25 10:37 AM Seems the council doesn’t really care about public safety. I think the last election it was one of the top 3 most important issues. Fund our officers so they don’t quit for higher pay at any other law enforcement dept in Washington
Brittney L 11/24/25 10:46 AM I urge you to not amend this budget unless it includes an increased budget for our law enforcement, Pierce County Sheriffs. I don’t understand how anyone could not consider increasing the budget for our LEO’s when they are severely understaffed and our community is unsafe. If someone needs any help, there’s such a delay with the lack of support and staffing they have. Please only increase the budget if it includes help for them, and in turn, our community. Otherwise we will continue to live in a Gotham and things will continue to get worse.
Kirsten Tucker 11/24/25 10:57 AM Over 3100 counties in the country and Pierce County has the lowest deputy per capita ratio. Our sheriffs department is dangerously understaffed. Wages need to be increased and more officers recruited.
Julie Caviezel 11/24/25 11:00 AM Our community desperately needs more LEO’s who are paid competitively with incentive to stay to protect & serve our area. The funds are there. Use them responsibly. There is currently a massive shortage in responding officers, which is a massive public safety concern. This needs to be top priority. Period.
K 11/24/25 11:08 AM Please reject this budget proposal until more money is allocated to the Sheriff's Office. Staffing levels and funding has not changed in 40 years. It is ridiculous that Pierce County is the lowest staffing of law enforcement per capita in the entire country. Every single person in this county wants to feel safe. This budget does not accurately reflect the county's wishes. This budget dumps a ton of money into homeless programs which according to the county's own point in time count, only number around 3000 individuals. Spend that money instead on the nearly 1 million people who lawfully and respectfully live and work in Pierce County, by funding the Sheriff's Office. It is laughable that there will be a homeless village (that costs many millions of dollars) in an area that has 1-2 deputies working at max. Our county priorities are completely backwards here.
Kerry Bayliss 11/24/25 11:11 AM We HAVE to pay our deputies AND animal control officers more. Are you aware that there are currently only 3 animal control officers for the whole of pierce county. Deputies and ACOs are leaving in drives for better pay. When are you going to start being accountable for the Available money in the budget?
Franz Helmcke 11/24/25 11:13 AM Please do not approve this budget proposal until the Sheriffs Department is fully funded to levels that rival surrounding jurisdictions. Sure, more parks and trails would be nice, but what good are they if they're unsafe and the citizens are too afraid to utilize them. Put public safety first.
Elizabeth Stratton 11/24/25 11:14 AM Please do not ratify the budget without allocating more funds for the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. Our county desperately needs more deputies and as a resident, I’m tired of law enforcement taking a back seat to other agendas. How can you honestly say you represent the community when you deliberately put your agendas and redistribution of funds above the safety and protection of the people that you are supposed to representing? I am apposed the current budget as it stands and respectfully request and re-allocation of funds to support the Pierce County Sheriff's dept. Thank you for your time.
Kerry Johnson 11/24/25 11:15 AM We need our deputies properly funded, the current situation is completely unacceptable
Christian Elder 11/24/25 11:15 AM Reject this! Public safety needs to be a priority! Pierce County is the lowest policed county in the nation. That is unacceptable.
george howell 11/24/25 11:23 AM I am asking the Pierce County Council to fully fund the Pierce County Sherifs office to bring Deputy staff back to 100% levels. I am also asking the county to actively engage with other cities, county's to stop & prevent their actions to pursue our Deputy's. Pierce County is now significantly below public safety levels at 0.39 Deputy's per 1,000 citizens. Pierce County should be at 2-Deputy's per 1,000 citizens. Please vote to support Sherif Swank and our Deputies. Thank you, George
Ashley Elander 11/24/25 11:28 AM I strongly urge our city to properly staff and fund our sheriffs department. As it stands, our community is at risk for an uptick in criminal behavior with no one to stop them. We need to protect our community and citizens with adequate staffing. Please keep our children, elderly, and property safe by appropriating more funds to the sheriff department
Abigail Ross 11/24/25 11:34 AM We prefer our hard earned money to go towards securing Sheriffs and protecting our communities. Please use it to fund the Sheriffs department.
Brent R 11/24/25 11:36 AM Please do not approve this budget until you fund our deputies and make our safety a priority. Do not ratify this budget.
John Leslie 11/24/25 11:44 AM As a bricklayer, I make $110,000 a year compared to a starting deputy at $85,000. I don't remember the bricks every assaulting me or trying to kill me. This budget needs to be revised to accommodate a big pay raise for Pierce County Deputies that at least puts them on par with a construction worker. Also needs to be revised so the executive cannot divert or dilute by administrative actions. Get the pay to the deputies!
Tonya Alexander 11/24/25 12:05 PM We need more Deputies in South Pierce County rural and unincorporated areas have all but been abandoned by the Sheriff Dept due to budget cuts and not enough deputies. People are being robbed, assaulted, trapped in their own druveways by uncaring Airbnb owners who block the driveway and the police won't come for any reason except violent felonies. Please use our tax dollars to fund the Pierce County Sheriff office and hire nore deputies for our rural communities! Thank you for hearing my concerns.
Sara Schroeter 11/24/25 12:14 PM The county's first priority should be safety. Sheriff's budget must be increased. Our government has driven officer's out and if more pay is the way the county has to increase the numbers than that is the priority.
Brett Holt 11/24/25 12:32 PM Please fully fund pierce country sheriff department now!
Bridgitte Westberg 11/24/25 12:36 PM Safety is a huge portion of feeling free aka freedom. The ability to live free and know that if in need, we have the police we can call is more important than most people think. Not having the proper police presence will make our not-so-little-anymore town look weak and unfortunately will make us a target. The lack of police will in turn affect most people’s ability to feel secure in our homes and businesses. From one tax payer (slave) to another…demand them to put more money into deputy pay!!! Your family is going to wish there were more police in our area when time comes. ❤️
Alex elgas 11/24/25 12:36 PM Found the sheriffs department please
Julie Swenson 11/24/25 1:09 PM I strongly oppose the current budget. We are severely understaffed in the unincorporated Pierce County area with our Sheriff Department. I do understand when you live rural, there is some cost to that, but the mountain detachment is severely understaffed and more is needed in this area alone. Pierce County needs to reallocate funds to the Pierce County Sheriff department for current deputies as well as hire many more. Many cities are offering bonuses and I would rather my tax dollars be spent on increasing the safety and security of unincorporated Pierce County. They are severely underpaid and overworked. Please take the safety of your citizens into account. We need their services more than ever right now.
Tessa Stutes 11/24/25 1:17 PM Do not ratify the budget unless you allocate more money to our sheriffs department
Jennifer Norene 11/24/25 2:09 PM Our community safety is paramount to what makes Gig Harbor a great place to live. Our vulnerable populations need protect. Neightbors can't do it all. Please fund this important issue. Thank you. I vote and own a business in Pierce County.
Emily Pressel 11/24/25 2:14 PM Please do not approve this budget without increase for the sheriffs department. I know you’re a supporter of law enforcement and I hope we can get more support like yours.
Gayle 11/24/25 2:16 PM Don't approve the budget unless you can support public safety
Marijka Fleming 11/24/25 2:31 PM I oppose this proposal and demand that you fund our Sheriffs office so that we may have safety in our homes. This is more important than any other park or trail or wildlife cause.
Stacie Snuffin 11/24/25 3:20 PM Public safety is among the most foundational responsibilities of local government, and right now Pierce County is facing a serious structural challenge. The fact that Washington state is ranked dead last in the U.S. for police staffing per capita is no small matter. Within the County itself, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office has reported deep and chronic vacancies, and the union representing deputies warns that staffing shortfalls are “crippling the ability to keep pace with growing demands across a vast jurisdiction. So when the County Council postpones or rejects a budget because it says “we don’t have the funding to hire more officers,” it sends a message that either one of two things is happening: either we are accepting that our protection will continue to be under-resourced, or we are failing to identify and prioritize the revenue and choices required to meet our public-safety obligations. It’s clear that the proposed biennial budget of roughly $3.5 billion and with 76% of the General Fund already directed toward public safety functions still leaves staffing gaps. If we cannot afford to hire sufficient deputies, then the next question becomes: what are the implications for response times, officer safety, the burden on remaining staff, and ultimately the safety of every resident? We must ask ourselves: • Are we willing to accept a staffing model where our county’s deputies are stretched beyond capacity, leaving fewer boots on the ground and longer wait times when the call comes in? • If not, what revenue or budget re-prioritization will make this investment possible? • If we accept that the budget is not sufficient, are we willing to face the consequences, fewer patrols, reduced community engagement, less proactive policing, and increased risk? The decision before the Council isn’t just about numbers and line items. It’s about the kind of community we want to live in: do we want one where law-enforcement resources are adequate to deter crime, protect victims, and support safe neighborhoods? Or do we resign ourselves to under-resourcing one of government’s core functions? In short: voting down or delaying a budget because you can’t hire more police officers is not a neutral act. It is a decision with real public-safety consequences. If the County lacks the funds, then part of the accountability discussion must shift: where will the money come from, and how will we measure whether public safety is being delivered to the standard our residents expect? I urge the Council to develop a clear plan that addresses the gap in staffing: identify the funding sources, set realistic hiring timelines, monitor results, and communicate openly with the public about how we restore our county to a level of service that meets the expectations of residents and the needs of those who don’t yet feel safe.
Gerard Le Grange 11/24/25 3:41 PM I oppose this proposal.
Brandie Herbert 11/24/25 3:45 PM Until public safety is met through the appropriate & substantial funding of our Pierce County Sheriff's Dept, this proposal should be rejected.
Patricia Stewart 11/24/25 3:55 PM I do not support it
Gayle Sneesby 11/24/25 4:47 PM Please do not approve this budget until our deputies are fully funded! This is very important to all of us and our safety
LaurieLayne 11/24/25 5:23 PM Don't approve budget unless Sheriff deputies are paid a competitive wage making our safety a priority! Thanks
Stevanie Sweet 11/24/25 5:26 PM Please do not pass the budget without fully funding the Pierce County Sheriff’s office. We’re losing our officers to more competitive pay elsewhere and losing our community to senseless criminal activity. Please help us by funding the PCSD
Christine Bromell 11/24/25 5:28 PM We should be funding our law enforcement.
Tom Wyciskala 11/24/25 5:51 PM DO NOT approve this budget until the Sheriffs department is funded. You have my tax money and I demand it be used for sheriff and safety.
K. Figueira 11/24/25 5:54 PM I oppose this budget and urge the County Council to support the Sheriff’s Department with competitive retention salaries and hiring bonuses. We ask that you refuse to ratify any budget that fails to include meaningful investment in public safety. It’s vital that we support the deputies who protect our community before the situation deteriorates further. Our county is one of the lowest-staffed for law enforcement departments in the nation, and crime is worsening by the day. The ability to correct this lies solely with the authority of the elected officials of this county. Placing blaming on the Sheriff has proven to be an easy scapegoat that distracts from real solutions. Despite our property taxes doubling over the past decade, our public safety services have declined, leaving residents increasingly vulnerable.
Emory Lehman 11/24/25 6:02 PM My parents live in rural Pierce County, in the town of Ashford. The Mt. Division of the Pierce County Sheriff's Office is the only agency that has access to provide police protection in the area. With all the issues that have been going on in the Nisqually Valley, the funding for the Sheriff's is needed for everyone's safety in the Valley. The counsel needs to re-visit the budget and fix the funding to properly maintain the department.
Patrick Plumb 11/24/25 6:10 PM This budget woefully underfunds Public Safety and Public Health. Cuts in those departments are directly affecting me in Unincorporated Pierce County. Additionally, Arrowhead Estates needs their own connection to Chambers Creek Wastewater Processing. Steilacoom is raising their rates like crazy without stopping our 25 percent extra surcharge.
William Sams 11/24/25 6:11 PM Please fully fund the Sheriff's department.
Debbie Doll 11/24/25 6:13 PM Stop. Please don't pass this budget as is. It leaves a whole bunch of us rural Pierce County families and homes to live in unsafe communities while YOU have plenty of protection. Please use my tax money that I've given to you to fund deputies to serve rural Pierce County. YOU have my money and the funds to allocate for hiring and competing with other law enforcement agencies that are hiring to keep their constituents safe. Why can't you?
Nicole Gorski 11/24/25 6:22 PM Please use our tax dollars to pay our deputies and to support our sheriffs department as a number one priority. Thank you
Jenny Adiele 11/24/25 6:34 PM Please do not approve this budget as presented. Our deputies and community safety must come first. It is deeply concerning to see funding directed toward other projects while essential public safety needs remain unmet. We urge you to prioritize the sheriff’s department and ensure proper resources are allocated before ratifying this budget.
Matt Czuleger 11/24/25 6:50 PM Please properly fund our sheriff's pay scale.we need to have a properly staffed on the peninsula. Gig Harbor. Thankyou
Curtis Filleau 11/24/25 7:04 PM The council NEED's to appropriate funding so that the Sheriff's Department can compete with other agencies when it comes to retaining and hiring deputies. It is obvious that deputy pay is too low which is forcing sheriff's deputies to leave the department to seek hire paying departments. It is imperative that deputy pay is competitive with surrounding agencies to include the City of Tacoma. Do not ratify the budget vote without proper funding for a significant pay increase for deputies.
David Weiss 11/24/25 7:09 PM Please do not ratify this budget until the Sheriff's Department is fully funded and staffed. Your primary function should be to the safety and well-being of the residents of Pierce County. Please get deputies in the field!!
Kate Hurley 11/24/25 7:10 PM Please fund our Sheriff’s Department. Make our safety a priority. Do not approve this budget until it adequately funds our Sheriff’s Department the way it deserves to be. Our community is worth it!
James Roberts 11/24/25 7:20 PM Please support of Sheriff's Department and oppose the budget as written. We need our officers back in Pierce County. In the last 15 years our population has increased, our crime has increased, our property taxes have increased, and our Sheriff Departments officers have decreased. That does not support logic as I know it. Please pay a competitive wage and bring our Sheriff Department back to a respectful number of deputies.
Ann Bennett 11/24/25 7:23 PM Please do not approve this budget until our Pierce county sheriff's department is properly funded to adequately protect the families and people living in this area. Funding more trails and parks won't matter if those areas don't feel safe and protected from crime. Public safety should be your first priority!
Whitney Hobbs 11/24/25 7:26 PM Do not approve this budget until money is going to the deputies that serve Pierce County Sheriff Department. They are understaffed, underpaid, and deserve far more. Stop putting tax payers at risk and fund the appropriate department: PCSD
Brittany Perry 11/24/25 7:28 PM Use the people's money on protecting the people. Fund our Sheriff's Department!
John Martinson 11/24/25 7:30 PM There appears to be lots of bloated projects and giveaways. Time to cut the junk and give us the law enforcement protection we desire! Propose a budget with better support for the Sheriff and corrections.
Debby Herbert 11/24/25 7:31 PM This budget should absolutely not be passed until the Sheriff's department is adequately funded. It is a core responsibility of county government to provide basic public safety. That means each of you, and you have failed at that. This is completely unacceptable. Please do what you were elected to do and see to it that there is funding for essential protection by the Sheriff's department for unincorporated Pierce County.
BFCG 11/24/25 7:48 PM Please do not ratify the budget without allocating more funds for the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. We need our sheriffs department and they need to be paid fairly.
Wesley Newsome 11/24/25 7:55 PM I oppose any proposal that doesn’t fund our Sheriff Deputies. They have one of the highest call volumes, have lost highly experienced Deputies to competing agencies, which will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to retrain, are grossly underpaid compared to Tacoma, not by $5/hr but $15/hr. and our safety is your job. This is project #1! Public safety is at great risk. There aren’t even enough Deputies to do routine traffic enforcement which has caused tremendous heartache to so many people with the reckless driving that takes place all over our County. The call volume outpaces Deputies abilities to handle needs in the community. Our safety is at risk. Our children’s safety is at risk. Schools are at risk. If budgets pass without fully funding our current Deputies, you will risk being below the required levels needed in our community, which I believe you have failed in your duty in protecting us as job #1. Do not pass any proposals that don’t fund our Deputies with competitive wage packages for this area. It will be a grave mistake and will cost lives and put our Deputies in danger. It’s sad we are putting a cost on the lives of our County residents by not funding our Sheriff Deputies. Please do what is right and needed. It’s over a year past already, and everyday this goes on, is another day we lose highly trained Deputies to other agencies.
K D 11/24/25 8:01 PM Please do not approve this budget until the Sheriff's Dept is fully staffed. Our safety should be top priority.
Brittany Mann 11/24/25 8:13 PM Do not change the budget for the sheriff department. We need them funded and it's already struggle as it. Unless your ADDING to their budget to add more deputies.
Christina Henry 11/24/25 8:46 PM Please don’t ratify the budget without adding more money to fully fund the pierce county sheriffs department. These men and women protect our communities and deserve our support!
Tammi 11/24/25 8:49 PM Please fund the Sherrifs Dept properly so that we stop losing deputies!!!
Nancy anderson 11/24/25 9:02 PM We feel that the sheriffs department should be a priority and implore you to increase its funding considerably. We need well supported deputies,, especially in these unsettled times. Please reconsider the budget to fully fund the sheriffs department?
carly g 11/24/25 9:57 PM As a mother of two young girls, I chose to raise my family in Gig Harbor because of it's safety and away from bigger city rif raf. Hearing we have lost 15 officers in recent months due to budgeting issues the city refused to fix is disheartening. I have little faith our voices make a difference in politics anymore unless we're fat doners or it's beneficial to those in office. But I urge you do the right thing and protect us and budget for safety first. By passing this budget that refuses to put the safety of the community first, you will likely have blood on your hands. WE NEED POLICE PROTECTION OVER ANYTHING ELSE IN THE BUDGET.
B Palmason 11/24/25 10:00 PM I oppose the budget until you provide adequate funding to staff the Sheriff's Dept. It's an outrage with the taxes we pay that we barely have any law enforcement coverage.
Brian Petersen 11/24/25 10:14 PM The staffing of the sheriff's office, per capita, is lower than any law enforcement agency in Washington State. The crime rate is high, and the geographical area is very large. These three realities make for a lack of service capability by the sheriff's office that is very concerning, and should be a top priority for Pierce County's elected leaders when considering the budget. Pierce County's citizens deserve better coverage by the sheriff's office. This budget should be rejected and rewritten to add a large number of deputy positions, and to account for better deputy compensation that would more closely match compensation of other law enforcement in our area.
Jeffrey Ries 11/24/25 10:23 PM If this budget is passed without significant support to public safety, in competitive salaries for deputies (look around at what other local agencies are paying), increasing the number of deputy positions to fill massive gaps in police coverage, and providing any needed equipment and supplies in support of their service and safety, then none of you deserve to remain in office. Safety is a basic human need, and many in our county are being denied the proper level of public safety. If we citizens cannot trust you to provide for our safety, then what does your support of any other program or project in the county matter to anyone? Do the right thing, or (God-willing) get voted out of office in favor of public servants who understand what it means to serve the public. You will not have my support if you do not support the basic need of citizens to be made safe in their communities.
Kaya Gore 11/24/25 10:52 PM Please reject the current budget proposal until the funding for the Sheriff's department is increased. Public safety should be the number one priority.
Joann Tracy 11/24/25 10:55 PM Pierce County Sheriff’s need more funding!
Eric Burkhead 11/24/25 11:49 PM The public safety of Pierce County citizens should be the NUMBER ONE PRIORITY for funding in the budget. Please consider this as a priority in your decisions. Thank you.
Jason Tate 11/25/25 12:13 AM Do not approve this budget. The PCSD has been terribly understaffed for years while the county population continues to increase. It is disgusting how the safety of the public is being blatantly disregarded and law-abiding citizens are being stepped on while chaos and anarchy are being encouraged. Do something for the safety of your Pierce County community and increase the budget for the PCSD--- who serve and protect that community every day.
diana forderer 11/25/25 5:56 AM Please do NOT ratify this budget as it currently is. The current level of policing is unacceptable, this is making our area extremelyunsafe and becoming unlivable. The is NOTHING more important to a community than the ability to live safely....We need to have officers to do that. After all, what good is it to have infrastructure and amenities etc if you are unsafe.
Breshears 11/25/25 7:38 AM We OPPOSE this. We SUPPORT our elected Sheriff and we SUPPORT Law Enforcement. These men and women put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect. How are we showing our gratitude to them and their families?
Samuel warren 11/25/25 8:22 AM I believe this inadequately addresses public safety by not funding the sheriffs department
Gaynelle Gauthier 11/25/25 8:37 AM We desperately need Gig Harbor to approve funds for sheriffs and deputies to make our area safe. We have been asking for this for a long time. The community is together on knowing that we need more help in this area. You are elected to hear our voices and make the changes necessary for our safety
Shaun Darby 11/25/25 8:48 AM The citizens have demanded public safety as our top priority for spending. The 26/27 budget does not reflect this. Proper pay = proper staffing. Fully fund PCSO as the citizens have clearly demanded
Heather Antonius 11/25/25 8:49 AM Pierce county sheriffs need more funding
Betty Foster 11/25/25 8:52 AM Please do not approve this proposal. Take our safety into consideration. Support our Sheriffs.
K H 11/25/25 8:52 AM Please fund our Sheriff's Department! Make our safety a priority. Do not approve this budget until it adequately funds our Sheriff's Department the way it deserves to be. Our community is worth it!
Nate C. 11/25/25 8:54 AM You need to prioritize public safety in this budget. We need more deputies and to do that you need to pay them more so we can fill all the vacancies, and the budget should reflect public safety above all else.
Brittney Chapman 11/25/25 8:56 AM Please do not approve this budget. Our county is becoming increasingly unsafe due to the lack of priority being placed on Public Safety. The residents of Pierce County have made it clear that they consider Public Safety to be our number one priority. The proposed budget fails to reflect that. We need to be putting the safety of our citizens first.
Scott Powers 11/25/25 8:56 AM The proposed budget fails to meet the most basic obligation of county government: ensuring public safety. Pierce County residents depend on the Sheriff's Department to respond swiftly, investigate thoroughly, and protect consistently. Yet, this budget neglects to properly fund the personnel and resources required to meet those expectations. The Sheriff’s Office is already operating at a critical deficit, down more than 40 commissioned positions with additional departures pending. Surrounding agencies are offering higher pay and better benefits, and as a result, we are losing trained, experienced deputies at an accelerating rate. This drain on staffing compounds call response times, increases risk to both the public and remaining employees, and undermines the County’s ability to deliver consistent law enforcement services. Rejecting additional funding for recruitment, retention, and compensation is not fiscal responsibility—it is an abdication of duty. The men and women of the Sheriff’s Department have continued to serve despite unsafe staffing levels and deteriorating morale. They deserve a budget that reflects their value to this community. I cannot support or endorse a budget that prioritizes discretionary spending or administrative growth over essential public safety services. I urge the Council to revisit this proposal and deliver a funding plan that invests in the people and tools needed to keep Pierce County safe.
Jason Youngman 11/25/25 9:21 AM Please do not approve this budget until it fully addresses proper funding for the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. They need a contract that makes them competitive. Without it qualified officers will seek employment elsewhere and the PCSO will continue to be severely understaffed. This will lead to higher crime rates, longer response times, overworked employees, and an overall decrease in public safety for Pierce County citizens.
Chad Chapman 11/25/25 9:35 AM I urge you to not approve this budget. The citizens of Pierce County deserve to have Public Safety placed as its' number one priority. They have made it abundantly clear that Public Safety is what they want as our number one priority. The budget should reflect that as it does not currently. Do not approve this budget without allocating more money to Public Safety.
Courteney Bealko 11/25/25 9:37 AM We need to make sure the Sheriff's Office is properly funded before finalizing a budget. This includes pay increases and funding for positions which have not been funded for years.
Dustin 11/25/25 9:41 AM I oppose this budget as written — please prioritize public safety by allocating more funding to support and retain our deputies.
Dani B 11/25/25 10:08 AM Do NOT approve this budget proposal until the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is properly funded. The citizens of Pierce County deserve better public service, and the Deputies working in Pierce County deserve a fair contract
JOSEPH MCDONALD 11/25/25 10:13 AM Passing this budget is being happy we are dead last in officers per capita in the whole United states. It is shameful we even have to ask to please not be dead last. Do not pass this budget. Shame will be upon your heads. Dead last is dead wrong.
Derek Wetlaufer 11/25/25 10:13 AM Please do not pass the budget until a contract with the Sheriffs Dept has been accepted
J. Smith 11/25/25 10:29 AM Public safety should be the top priority, and the current budget fails to adequately fund the Sheriff's Department. I believe funds allocated to other projects should be redirected to address this critical need and ensure proper staffing and compensation for our sheriff's department
Rebecca Torres 11/25/25 10:32 AM Please continue to fund our Sheriff's department
Brooke S. 11/25/25 10:40 AM DO NOT approve this budget until the Pierce County Sheriff's department is funded adequately enough to retain and attract officers. Our safety should be top priority!
Diane B 11/25/25 10:49 AM I strongly oppose Ordinance O2025-562s3. My opposition is based on the ordinance’s failure to adequately fund the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, which jeopardizes public safety. The Sheriff’s Office is already struggling with staffing shortages and rising call volumes. Without sufficient funding, deputies cannot respond promptly to emergencies, investigate crimes thoroughly, or maintain a visible presence in our neighborhoods. Delayed response times and reduced patrols leave communities vulnerable, and this erodes confidence in local government’s ability to protect its citizens. I urge the Council to reconsider its budget priorities. Funding for the Sheriff’s Office should be increased, even if it requires reallocating resources from less critical programs. Public safety must come first, and long-term investment in recruitment and retention is essential to ensure deputies can serve effectively. I urge the Council to amend Ordinance O2025-562s3 to provide adequate funding for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. Public safety is not optional; it is the foundation of a thriving community.
Cody Kirsch 11/25/25 11:06 AM Do not approve the budget until the Sheriffs Office is properly funded and Deputies are competitively compensated for the agencies in our area. By not doing so you are continuing to place residents of the county at risk.
Tom Catey 11/25/25 11:06 AM I strongly urge the council to reject the current budget due to the under funding of the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. Public safety is the foundation of any successful community. The lack of support to the safety of the citizens of Pierce County is appalling. Being ranked last in officers per capita in the nation is not acceptable. I ask that you please fully fund and staff the Pierce County Sheriffs Office prior to accepting any budget.
Gary Parker 11/25/25 11:16 AM Pierce County cannot keep pretending this budget is “good enough” when our Sheriff’s Office is operating with the lowest staffing levels in the entire country. People are waiting 30, 45, even 60 minutes for a deputy to show up. Not because the deputies don’t care, but because there simply aren’t enough of them left. We’ve lost dozens to surrounding agencies that pay more, offer better support, and actually prioritize public safety. Meanwhile our population keeps growing and our taxpayers keep paying more, yet the basic promise government is supposed to deliver, a safe community, is slipping further away. Residents from every corner of the county have said the same thing over and over: we do not feel safe, and we’re tired of being ignored. This budget should not pass until the Council delivers a real solution. Not statements of support, not vague future commitments. An actual, funded plan to stop the loss of deputies and rebuild safe staffing. That means competitive wages, restored positions, and a clear priority on the services only the Sheriff’s Office can provide. Nothing else in this budget matters if families can’t count on 911 being answered in time. Public safety is the foundation for everything, parks, trails, housing, local business, all of it. If the Council wants to regain trust, show people that their safety comes first. Fix the staffing crisis, then pass the budget.
Kevin Pressel 11/25/25 11:38 AM Please do your part to protect your constituents from Ryan Mello’s total lack of support for our Sheriff’s Deputies and public safety. Send this budget back and shore him that he needs to start protecting the community by making The Sheriff’s Office a place where future police officers want to work and where the current force feels supported. It’s amazing that the City of Tacoma has figured it out, yet he hasn’t.
Lynette Carmichael 11/25/25 11:44 AM Unincorporated Pierce County is growing — families, neighborhoods, businesses. We pay taxes. We follow the rules. We expect public safety. But right now, the county is ready to approve a budget without accurate numbers for the Sheriff’s Office — the agency responsible for protecting these growing communities. We deserve transparency. We deserve answers. We deserve accountability. DO BETTER!
Leonard 11/25/25 11:46 AM Council should prioritize their spending for public safety
Mike Parsons 11/25/25 11:50 AM Fund our Sheriff’s Department and prioritize protecting our citizens and property over protecting/incentivizing criminals.
Herman S. Koppisch 11/25/25 11:51 AM Please, do not approve this budget. It's imperative that as citizens we continue to support the sheriff's office and deputies that day in and day out reach out to protect and serve the citizens of Pierce County. We need more deputies. Approval of this proposed budget is a disservice to our community and will have a negative impact to core and fiber of our law enforcement community in Pierce county.
Bob LeSage 11/25/25 12:01 PM The first priority of Pierce County’s funding should be the Pierce County sheriffs department Specially, deputies for the south end Leaving citizens to defend themselves like the wild wild West is not a civilized option I’m baffled why this is even a question
Greg M 11/25/25 12:05 PM Please do not approve the budget without a SIGNIFICANT improvement to the Sheriff's Office budget both for (1) competitive pay with other LE agencies in the area and for (2) massively increased staffing across the entire public safety enterprise of Pierce County. The Sheriff's Office is failing to recruit in the current hiring environment because of pay, but even if the agency was fully staffed, the "fully staffed" number of employees hasn't been adequate since the 1980's. Based on the public budget information, this ask is not unreasonable. The entire PCSO budget (Jail and LE) is 12% of the entire county budget. PCSO salary budget (for all employees of all types) is approximately 4.5% of the county budget. Raising pay to competitive levels is not unreasonable. Even growing the agency by a large amount with a future plan to continue growth would not cost taxpayers too much. This isn't about partisan politics. This is about the PCSO being THE WORST STAFFED LE AGENCY in THE WORST STAFFED STATE while also covering an immense geography. PCSO should be TWICE the size it currently is to be even moderately reasonable. The current staffing target number and employee pay is absolute negligence by Pierce County elected leadership. That leadership has been Republican and Democrat over the past few decades, so again, this is not about politics. This is about decades of previous leadership failing to grow the services while allowing the county to overdevelop. PCSO right now is like cut rate car insurance that meets the requirement to have car insurance but is absolutely useless when you need to call in for help. Technically, unincorporated PC has law enforcement service just like someone with cut rate insurance technically has insurance. When someone breaks into a Pierce County home while the residents are away, they might have to wait hours for a Deputy to respond to the not-in-progress property crime. Once that Deputy takes a report, it will never get followed up on by Detectives because they are all over tasked with violent crime investigations. The Deputies and Detectives individually are giving 100% but the agency cannot keep up. Other parts of the criminal justice system in PC likely need to be boosted, as well, including the Prosecutor, DAC, Courts, etc, but I'm less informed on their current staffing and workload. Obviously, increasing the size of the LE agency does nothing if the follow on process does not have the capacity to process cases through court.
Ki Yi 11/25/25 12:06 PM I am urging the Council to fully fund the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. Public safety is not an optional service—it is the foundation of a strong and healthy community. Our deputies are asked to respond to increasing calls for service, handle more complex situations, and cover large geographic areas, all while facing staffing shortages and limited resources. Failing to provide adequate funding does not save money in the long run. Instead, it increases response times, reduces proactive policing, strains emergency services, and puts both residents and deputies at greater risk. The Sheriff’s Office needs the funding to recruit and retain qualified deputies, provide modern training and equipment, and continue the essential services our community depends on every day. Residents deserve timely emergency response and a well-supported law enforcement agency. I urge the Council to reconsider and prioritize funding for the Sheriff’s Office. A safe community is a shared responsibility, and it begins with ensuring our deputies have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively and safely.
Christopher Rogers 11/25/25 12:07 PM Please reject the proposed budget and better fund our Sheriff's department. I live just outside Pierce County, but serve as lead pastor for a church in Gig Harbor. Safety must be a priority. Thank you.
Alex Richards 11/25/25 12:25 PM Do not approve this budget until it properly funds the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. They are at critically low staffing levels, leaving the taxpayers in danger everyday. My family and I demand you adequately fund the Deputies through a competitive contract to help recruit and retain them. Our safety as residents depends on it.
Chris Rupel 11/25/25 12:36 PM This budget should not pass because it has not and will not account for public safety, specifically law enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office is critically understaffed and EVEN “fully” staffed the Office is not meeting national best practices in LEO per capita. Security is the priority for every peaceful and civilized society and whatever this County budgets for should not neglect that.
Jack 11/25/25 1:05 PM Fund the Sheriffs department and pay the deputies a competitive wage! The people of pierce county deserve a strong police force and less crime.
Steve O'Donnell 11/25/25 1:10 PM Your "JOB ONE" IS Public Safety! SOooo either DO YOUR JOB or Resign!
Scott 11/25/25 1:11 PM This should be opposed because there is inadequate funding for our pierce county sheriffs department
jaremy brown 11/25/25 1:16 PM Pierce County is approaching one million residents, with a population density higher than most counties in Washington, yet our Sheriff’s Department remains staffed at levels completely inadequate for a county of this size. This is not a budget problem; it is a County Council problem. The Council has been presented with a budget proposal that does not meet even the minimum staffing needs of the Sheriff’s Department, and instead of rejecting it and demanding a real plan for public safety, the Council appears prepared to approve it. This is a clear failure of leadership. Pierce County currently has approximately 0.57 deputies per 1,000 residents, which is less than half the Washington sheriff average of 1.30 and dramatically below national norms for jurisdictions of similar size. To reach the levels maintained by comparable counties, Pierce County would need between 200 and 400 additional deputies. This is not an ambitious goal; it is simply the baseline required to patrol, protect, and respond adequately across rural, suburban, and unincorporated communities. Instead of addressing this reality, the County Council is preparing to move forward with a budget that continues to underfund law enforcement and deepens an already dangerous staffing crisis. Pay is not the issue. Pierce County deputies are already paid at or slightly above cost-of-living-adjusted national and state averages. The problem is the number of funded positions. Deputies are overworked, burnout is rising, response times are increasing, rural coverage is thinning, and investigations are delayed. The Council knows all of this and is still willing to pass a budget that keeps Pierce County less safe. Nationally, law enforcement spending averages around $407 per resident per year. Pierce County’s cost of living is roughly 28 percent higher than the national average, which means an appropriate per-resident law enforcement investment should be between $210 and $260 per year for the Sheriff’s Office alone. Instead, Pierce County spends approximately $202 per resident per year on the Sheriff’s Office, placing the department at the bottom end of what comparable counties invest in public safety. To align with the needs of a county nearing one million residents, the Sheriff’s Office biennial budget should realistically fall between $420 and $500 million. The County Council absolutely has the money but chooses to prioritize politically fashionable programs, duplicative social initiatives, advocacy-driven nonprofits, and administrative expansions while leaving public safety underfunded. The Council must reject the current Sheriff’s budget proposal. It should not be approved until the department is fully and properly funded. The Council must demand an updated budget that provides realistic staffing levels, commit to raising the biennial Sheriff’s budget into the expected $420–$500 million range, and ensure these funds directly support sworn staff rather than administrative growth or unrelated programs. Pierce County residents deserve the same level of protection provided in comparable counties nationwide. The Sheriff’s Department cannot meet those needs under the current funding structure, and the Council’s willingness to ignore the staffing crisis is a dangerous failure of responsibility. Public safety is not optional, and until the County Council fully funds the Sheriff’s Department, Pierce County’s public safety crisis is not a policing problem—it is a political one.
Vicky Alsaker 11/25/25 1:25 PM Please refrain from approving this budget until adequate funding is secured for our deputies and public safety is made a priority. Please identify a solution that properly supports the public safety process from arrest to trial to prison availability.
Ron Smith 11/25/25 1:53 PM Members of the Pierce County Council, I implore you not to pass this budget until which time your first obligation is adequately addressed: Public Safety. The Sheriff's Office is losing deputies due to the inadequate pay and working conditions. Neighboring agencies are paying much more. The Sheriff's Office ratio of Deputy to citizen is the lowest in the nation. This is the failure of the Pierce County leadership. You have the ability to fix it, please do!
Renee 11/25/25 2:04 PM Does the Sheriff's Office retain all the funds for ALL vacant positions within their office? My understanding is they do not. They should have all the money for their budget every year, to at least fund some overtime. I work for another city and I know King County and Tacoma officers have unlimited OT to fill empty spots and work cases. Why is the Sheriff's office different, when there is over 40 vacancies. Plus, pay wages that compare with the agencies in the area!!
Kendall Hoisington 11/25/25 2:09 PM Fund the deputies! Public safety has to come before everything else!
Julie Sams 11/25/25 2:20 PM Im am opposed at approving this budget. Pierce County Sheriffs are greatly under payed and more sheriffs are needed. Please consider this as safety for citizens is now in a crisis mode.
Todd McKellips 11/25/25 2:27 PM I strongly support funding the Pierce County Sheriff’s contract proposal. Our deputies serve one of the largest and fastest-growing counties in Washington, yet we’ve been losing experienced law-enforcement officers by the dozens every year since 2016. We simply can’t expect to keep our communities safe or attract new talent when our salaries are no longer competitive with surrounding jurisdictions. The data is clear: when law enforcement staffing drops, response times go up, crime increases, and the stability of neighborhoods declines. Communities with inadequate policing often see higher rates of poverty, reduced business investment, and fewer stable housing opportunities because residents and employers feel less secure. Safety is a foundation for economic mobility and housing security — without it, families and small businesses struggle to thrive. Funding this contract is not just about supporting deputies — it’s about supporting the well-being, safety, and prosperity of Pierce County. Strong communities require strong public safety, and competitive wages are essential to recruiting and retaining the officers who protect us every day.
Jeff Schlimme 11/25/25 2:31 PM Please fund the Sheriff's office and add more deputies.
Andrea Mylan 11/25/25 2:32 PM I oppose . Our county is falling apart and cutting the funding for our officers is not ideal. The safety of pierce county is compromised.
Jeff Maranon 11/25/25 3:07 PM Do not approve this budget until a reasonable and adequate funding is properly allocated to public safety, specifically towards the Sheriff's Office. I've been a lifetime resident of Pierce County and the lack of resources towards public safety is an insult to the public and its residents.
Sergio Sanchez 11/25/25 3:09 PM I oppose this budget. Time to prioritize safety. Do not fund other projects. Pierce County residents deserve a response for help. Deputies have lost their lives due to low staffing levels and losing more is creating an officer safety issue for them. The citizens will resort to their own efforts in solving their own issues which can pose safety concerns for all. Pay your Deputies what they deserve. Ryan Mello has published "Forward Together: Building communities that feel safe, welcoming and connected.".....this budget goes against what he has stated. Make good on your word and make your communities feel safe by funding your law enforcement agency.
Emily Anderson 11/25/25 3:47 PM I do not support this budget as it does not give enough funding to the Pierce County Sheriffs office. Tell Ryan Mello to fund the sheriffs office so they can be paid a competitive wage and our sheriffs dept does not continue to loose years of experienced officers to other jurisdictions. I am just an uneducated blue coller worker and I make more money than officers that put their life on the line keeping our community safe. This is unacceptable as our neighborhoods have become unsafe due to all the crime with the lack of officers on duty.
Nic Wright 11/25/25 5:38 PM Public safety should be our priority. I strongly oppose Ordinance O2025-562s3. My opposition is based on the ordinance’s failure to adequately fund the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, which jeopardizes public safety. The Sheriff’s Office is already struggling with staffing shortages and rising call volumes. Without sufficient funding, deputies cannot respond promptly to emergencies, investigate crimes thoroughly, or maintain a visible presence in our neighborhoods. Delayed response times and reduced patrols leave communities vulnerable, and this erodes confidence in local government’s ability to protect its citizens. I urge the Council to reconsider its budget priorities. Funding for the Sheriff’s Office should be increased, even if it requires reallocating resources from less critical programs. Public safety must come first, and long-term investment in recruitment and retention is essential to ensure deputies can serve effectively. I urge the Council to amend Ordinance O2025-562s3 to provide adequate funding for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. Public safety is not optional; it is the foundation of a thriving community.
Ian Schwartz 11/25/25 7:30 PM Every deputy the sheriff’s office hires takes approximately 6 months to hire (considering the testing and background investigation process), 8 weeks of in house training, 17 weeks of academy training, 1-2 weeks of post academy training, and a 16 week field training process. That means that it takes, on average, 15-16 months from when they accept an application to when that applicant is fully trained and able to work alone (thus counting for staffing). The county is losing money hand over fist and wasting time by training, paying, and equipping deputies just to have them leave for higher paying agencies once they’re certified. Law enforcement is a job market like any career. If an employer doesn’t remain competitive, they can’t hire/retain employees. There are dozens of agencies in the King/Pierce/Thurston/Kitsap county area with similar/better benefits and pay and much better staffing. Many new deputies can’t even afford to live in Pierce County, which increases the likelihood that they will look for more competitive pay closer to home or at an agency with a similar commute. Pierce County needs to make a strategic decision to prioritize law enforcement hiring and retention by rejecting this budget proposal.
LaRie Blake 11/25/25 8:49 PM Please Do not approve this budget until our sheriff departments are paid properly. Our public safety is not a priority and that needs to change!! Spend the money on our deputies!!!
Matt McKee 11/26/25 7:46 AM More money for sheriff. We need more deputies and better pay.
Linda McKee 11/26/25 9:38 AM Home and car insurance rates are off the charts in large part due to crime. Our deputies need to be full defended and we need far more deputies per capita in Pierce County. Their wages need to be competitive and their training excellent so that your community members can feel safe. Please revise the budget to ensure community safety by fully funding competitive wages for our law-enforcement officers.
Michael Nunn 11/26/25 10:01 AM The proposed budget fails to address one of the most urgent problems in our county. We are operating with one of the lowest staffed Sheriff’s Offices in the entire nation. This is unacceptable. Residents deserve a reasonable level of safety and response, and right now that is not possible with the current deputy staffing levels. Public safety must come before parks, trails, or any other discretionary spending. Those projects matter, but they are not more important than making sure law enforcement can actually protect the people who live here. The county needs to immediately prioritize funding for additional deputies, improved retention, and adequate resources for the Sheriff’s Office. This is a basic responsibility of local government. It should be corrected without delay.
Ross Hjelseth 11/26/25 11:24 AM Please increase funding the sheriff’s department in order to increase police presence in our community. Also increase funding for garbage and debris removal from our roads and streets. Pierce County has accepted garbage and debris and looks like a third world country. Cut funding for far left agenda items. People are leaving our state for better and better is not hard to find.
Lance 11/26/25 11:45 AM Do not approve the budget unless the Pierce County Sherriff Department is fully funded. We the taxpayers expect law and order to be established in our communities. That is the job and responsibility of the Pierce County Council. Stop playing political games with public safety. Ryan Mellow, do your job and ensure our communities are safe with fully funded and equipt Sherriff Department.