First comes the economic forecast - the mixing and matching of numbers to see where the national and state economies are heading. Then comes the more-anticipated revenue forecast that tells the governor and legislators whether they have to cut spending again and whether it can wait until January.

But you can't get one without the other. Take a look at the report issued last week to the six-member state forecast council by chief state economist Arun Raha.

It is interesting – if disturbing – reading. Test your inherent optimism by deciding whether the economic glass is half full or half empty.

I take a run at the numbers in my column Tuesday.

Pierce County may borrow $46 million over two years to improve some of the county’s most congested roads.

The County Council is considering a plan to borrow $24 million this year and $22 million next year for construction, design or right of way acquisition for 16 road projects. Among them:

• Widening 176th Street East from two lanes to five lanes from Canyon Road to Gem Heights Drive. The county will bid the project this summer, with construction finished in 2011.

• Widening 94th Avenue East from two lanes to five lanes from 116th Street E to 136th Street E. The project already is under construction and will be finished this fall.

• Widening Wollochet Drive NW from two lanes to up to five lanes from 40th Street NW to East Bay Drive NW. Construction would begin in 2011.

• Widening 176th from two lanes to five lanes from Waller Road to 51st Avenue East. Construction would begin in 2011.

The bond issues this year and next would not require voter approval. But the council must agree to borrow the money and pledge real estate excise taxes to repay the debt.

Borrowing money against real estate excise tax receipts is something of a gamble for the county.

As recently as 2006 Pierce County collected more than $7 million annually in real estate taxes as the market boomed. But as the real estate market cooled, receipts have plummeted. Last year the county collected just $3.5 million in real estate excise taxes, and it’s on a pace to collect only $2 million this year.

By borrowing only about half the money this year, the county can make sure its getting enough real estate tax revenue to cover debt payments before borrowing the other half, according to budget director Pat Kenney. The county also would pledge road fund and general fund revenue to cover the payments, if needed.

For years the growth in real estate taxes allowed the county to spend cash to keep road projects on track. With several major projects ready for construction, that’s not longer the case.

County officials say borrowing the money to finish key projects makes sense for several reasons.

Interest rates are low. So is the cost of building roads. Councilman Dick Muri, R-Steilacoom, said the county would be “building (roads) when you can get them on sale.”

County officials say the road projects also are a form of economic stimulus.

“It’s a great way to put people to work right now,” said County Engineer Brian Stacy.

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Neighborhood activist John Miles is now in the race to succeed Connie Landenburg representing Dist. 5 on the Tacoma City Council.

Miles filed his candidacy on Friday, joining previously announced candidates Joe Lonergan and Beckie Summers-Kirby, and setting up a three-way primary. The district represents the far southern swath of the city, including parts of South Tacoma, the South End and East Side.

Miles, 39, is vice chairman of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council and chairman of the Edison Community Based Services Action Team. Edison is one of the areas targeted in the city's CBS program, which is aimed at enlisting neighbors to help reduce crime and blight.

“The Edison neighborhood realized tremendous improvements in the past three years due to the leadership of the Edison Team," Miles said in a press release. "My campaign to build such partnerships in other South Tacoma, South End and Eastside neighborhoods has already begun."

“My candidacy is about improving communities right now, not just getting elected,” he said.

County Executive Pat McCarthy isn’t happy with

the way public works director Brian Ziegler was treated at a County Council committee meeting last week.

Ziegler endured the wrath of council Chairman Roger Bush, R-Graham, while reporting on the status of the county’s sign code enforcement. Citing questions about how to enforce the law, public works ended a crackdown on illegal signs last fall even though the council had set aside money in the budget for the effort. Now Ziegler says full-time sign enforcement isn’t a high priority in light of recent budget cuts.

Bush laid into Ziegler at last Tuesday’s committee meeting, labeling Ziegler’s explanation “hogwash” and accusing him of mismanaging the public works department.

McCarthy told me last week that Bush’s behavior amounted to “political pandering at its worst” and said disagreements over budget priorities shouldn’t be turned into “public opera.”

“I don’t believe you should publicly berate a public worker,” McCarthy said. “If the council has a performance issue with one of my employees those issues should be directed to me.

“Prior to this week council member Bush has never approached me about his concerns about the sign removal program,” McCarthy added. “Now that I am aware of his concerns we can begin to work to address them.”

I spoke with Bush this morning. He said he has no regrets about taking Ziegler to task. He called the director’s take on the sign issue misleading “spin.” And Bush reiterated his displeasure that the public works department had overridden a council decision to enforce the county’s illegal sign rules.

“It’s not my style,” Bush said of last week’s meeting. “But you can’t let that kind of nonsense go on.”

Are Tacoma's exploratory efforts to put in a street car system a move to woo Rice-a-Roni in case Russell departs? Find out at an informational meeting June 18!

"The South Puget Sound treat!" has a nice ring to it, dontcha think?

Tacoma light rail/streetcar public information meeting, June 18
On June 18 from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m., the City of Tacoma, in partnership with Sound Transit and Pierce Transit, will host a light rail/streetcar public information meeting. Anyone interested in learning more about the history and planning for these modes of transportation is encouraged to attend.

The meeting will begin with a brief introduction and followed by an informal open house where participants can speak with agency staff about:

· Development of light rail/streetcar concepts for Tacoma
· Comparisons between light rail and streetcars
· Potential funding
· Potential benefits and impacts
· Next steps

The meeting will be held at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St., Room 708. For more information, contact City of Tacoma staff, Karrie Spitzer at (253) 591-5790 or Christian Clegg at (253) 591-5125.

(Photo: Seattle Municpal Archives)