Organizational Overview Pierce County's home-rule charter was approved by the voters in November 1980 and became effective on May 1, 1981. The charter separated executive and legislative responsibilities by establishing the position of County Executive to serve as the chief executive officer and a seven-member Council to serve as the legislative branch. Elected officials are named in the organizational chart. The Council is the policy setting body of the County and has all the powers of the County which are not otherwise reserved to the People, the Executive, and general law. The Council members are nominated and elected by the voters of seven districts in Pierce County.
Legislative authority is exercised by the adoption and enactment of ordinances or resolutions.
The executive branch is comprised of the Executive and all executive departments established by the Charter or by ordinance. Each of the division directors has oversight responsibility for specific functions and departments, as indicated in the organizational chart. According to the charter, all executive departments are subject to the personnel, budgeting, expenditure and any other policies of general application established by the Executive. Control of County finances is under the authority of the Executive and is delegated to the Department of Budget and Finance.