Community Government

Supplemental budget cushions county from federal cuts

The Pierce County Council on Aug. 12 passed a supplemental budget that provides contingency for potential federal funding cuts.

County Executive Ryan Mello proposed the supplement to the 2024-25 biennial budget. It includes a $25 million fund in case federal funds are lost.

Federal funding to states and local governments are at risk because of congressional budget cuts, cuts to and elimination of programs and grants by the Trump administration, and the addition of unacceptably coercive conditions in many new federal contracts, the county stated in a press release.

Possible uses

The fund could pay contractors for work they’ve already performed, for example, or to wind down a program that serves vulnerable people instead of ending it suddenly.

Ryan Mello

The council must commence a five-day reporting period before it can use the fund. And the council must post its intention to use the fund in its meeting agenda.

“The Council is fully aware of the size and scope of this budget supplemental, and we want to ensure there is full transparency in how public dollars are being administered and for what purpose,” Council Chair Jani Hitchen said of the $28.7 increase. “The reality is, however, that the federal government has upended the funding structures our human services and other related programs rely on, and unprecedented action is warranted.”

“I’m grateful to the County Council for sharing our concerns about the significant uncertainty caused by the actions of the federal government,” Mello said. “While I’m hopeful this contingency fund will not be needed, I’m relieved we now have some flexibility to mitigate and prevent the disruption of critically needed support for some of our most vulnerable residents.”

In addition to the contingency fund, the supplemental reappropriates $800,000 from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department to support food insecurity initiatives. The health board notified the council that it wouldn’t be able to expend the American Rescue Plan Act dollars before the end of the year.

The ordinance now heads back to Mello for signature.