Pierce County

Strong communities require investments to maintain safe, modern, and updated public infrastructure. Proposition 1 would raise funds for much-needed street repairs in the City of Tacoma.

Proposition 1 is an investment in maintaining and repairing arterial streets, high-risk corridors, pedestrian walkways, nonmotorized bicycleways, and neighborhood greenways. Leaving our streets in disrepair leads to traffic deaths, vehicle damage, and negative impacts on the local economy. If voters approve the proposition, the transportation infrastructure upgrades will create good-paying union jobs, safer neighborhoods, and a more prosperous community.

Proposition 1 would fund these projects by increasing the property rate to an estimated $1.95 per $1,000 in assessed value and imposing a 2% utility tax on gross revenues of natural gas, electric, and phone utilities. The city expects that these rate increases will cost the average Tacoma household only $6 more a month in property taxes and $2.17 more a month in utility taxes.

While we wish the public revenue needed for community repairs didn't have to come from regressive property and utility taxes, we believe that Proposition 1 will benefit the community, especially given its strong support from progressive leaders and our partner organizations. Vote Yes on City of Tacoma, Proposition 1.

Like many school districts in Washington, Puyallup relies on local bonds and levies to fund much-needed technology, learning, and infrastructure investments. Puyallup School District Proposition 1 would renew a bond to mitigate the effects of overcrowding, replace aging school infrastructure, and strengthen school safety.

Our growing district faces challenges from overcrowding and overtaxed resources, infrastructure, and staff capacity. The construction bond would go towards seven major funding destinations, including projects to expand Emerald Ridge, Puyallup, and Rogers high schools, replace Mt. View, Spinning, and Waller Road elementary schools, and construct a new elementary school. The proposition represents an opportunity to keep pace with the school district's needs without increasing the current tax rate.

A similar bond earned an impressive 63% support in the February election. However, it did not pass because overall voter turnout was too low under state law. The school board has chosen to place it to voters once again due to its vital importance to earmarked construction and renovation projects. If successful, the proposition would issue $800 million in general obligation bonds, extending the current voter-approved bond rate of $4.14 per $1,000 of assessed value. This would mean that the owner of a median $562,000 home could expect to continue to pay approximately $193 per month to support local schools.

Vote Yes on Puyallup School District Proposition 1.

Orting Valley Fire & Rescue Proposition 1 is proposing to merge Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 18 (“Orting Valley Fire & Rescue”) into Central Pierce Fire & Rescue. The proposed merger has several benefits, including faster emergency response and better support and training for firefighters. The merger will not require increased funding via a new tax, nor will it result in the loss of any jobs or fire station closures.

The final step in the process is voter approval in the Orting Valley Fire & Rescue district. Vote YES to approve Orting Valley Fire & Rescue Proposition 1 for improved fire and rescue services.