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.