Residents urge caution on proposed sales tax, call for more school mental-health services and cleanup of encampments

Several residents used the Pierce County Council’s community forum on Feb. 3 to raise distinct concerns about a proposed sales-tax measure, encampment cleanup and school mental-health services.

Kim Paulson, speaking in chambers, said she opposed the county’s proposed tax (the transcript references a measure number read as "20 26 5 0 0 1 5 0 1") and described enforcement cameras and fines as a revenue generator. Paulson said the tax would raise "approximately" $20,000,000 if her reading of the material was correct and urged the council to pursue government efficiency instead of new taxes: "Don't be tagged tax raiser with your name if you vote yes on this," she said.

Another resident described seeing drug needles and mattresses a block and a half from the courthouse and near a day care in Spanaway Lake, urged the council to begin ticketing and cleaning encampments and warned they would publicize conditions nationally if action is not taken.

Adriana Monroe, a social worker who identified herself for the record, urged more mental-health professionals in schools and asked the council to press state legislators to revise House Bill 1637, which she said aims to add more school resource officers. "School resource officers are not highly trained behavioral-health professionals," Monroe said, arguing officers are trained primarily for criminal investigations and that relying on them for mental-health care can be harmful to students of color.

The chair closed the public-comment period after noting the time limit and later made brief remarks about the county’s recent point-in-time count and outreach to people experiencing homelessness. The meeting then adjourned.

The transcript records these as public comments; no formal action, votes or staff directives on the items were recorded during the session.