In-person public opinion was mixed on a public safety levy proposal the Pierce County Council introduced in a special meeting on Feb. 9. Detractors included self-described supporters of law enforcement in general and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office specifically.
If passed, the levy would create a 0.1% sales tax — one cent on every $10 spent — to increase funding for public safety, including hiring in the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. Hiring in the sheriff’s department has been an ongoing cause of concern in the county, particularly in the Gig Harbor area of unincorporated Pierce County.
The levy needs the support of at least five of the seven county council members to pass…