Pierce County renews one-year contract to publish legal notices with The News Tribune

Pierce County on April 1 authorized the County Executive to enter a one-year contract with The News Tribune to publish the county’s legal notices for the term beginning July 1, 2025. The council adopted Resolution R2025-120 by a 6-0 roll-call vote.

Staff explained state law prescribes that at its first meeting in April the council select an official county newspaper for a one-year contract beginning July 1; the contract must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder while considering circulation to give notices the widest publicity. Staff said The News Tribune is the only qualified newspaper in the county that publishes more than once weekly and guarantees published circulation numbers.

Why it matters: Legal notices (e.g., public hearings, foreclosures, notices of surplus property) must be published in an official newspaper; the contract establishes the vendor and a spending maximum for the coming year.

The proposed contract maximum is $135,000, the same amount the county used in the prior year. Staff noted The News Tribune publishes digitally every day and prints Sunday, Wednesday and (transcript: “Bridal”) editions and reported guaranteed circulation of about 20,010 daily and 20,684 on Sundays. The procurement proceeded by direct negotiation under a county-code provision allowing negotiated purchases when only one qualified vendor exists.

The council held a public hearing and took no public comment. After brief discussion, the clerk called the roll and the resolution passed 6-0.

Ending: The county will execute the one‑year contract with The News Tribune and continue using that paper as the county’s official newspaper for legal notices beginning July 1, 2025.