Pierce County Election: School, Firefighting Funding On Ballot

SUMNER, WA - Voters across Pierce County on Tuesday will be asked to approve property taxes to fund local school districts and fire departments. You can vote in person or by putting your ballot in a drop box - just make sure to get the ballot postmarked or in a drop box by 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Here's what's on the ballot near you:

Puyallup School District Proposition 1

This is a replacement levy for funding Puyallup schools. The levy would cost $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value through 2022. For a home with an assessed value of $400,000, taxes would increase by about $600 each year, for example. The levy would raise about $134 million over the next four years.

University Place School District Proposition 1

A replacement for an expiring tax levy, Prop 1 would raise about $45 million over the next four years for everything from textbooks to school nurses. The levy will cost $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value 2019 to 2022.

University Place School District Proposition 1

This $8 million levy will allow the district to make repairs and upgrades to schools. The levy begins in 2019 at 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value and ratchets down to 44 cents by 2022.

Sumner School District Proposition 1

This is one of the few two-year levies on the ballot. The levy would raise about $44 million with a $1.50 tax per $1,000 of assessed value through 2020. The levy provides funding for general school operations.

Sumner School District Proposition 1

One of the few six-year requests, this is a renewal of a technology levy passed by voters in 2014. The levy drops each year through 2024, and begins at 60 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2019.

Valley Regional Fire Authority Proposition 1

The fire authority is asking voters to allow the department to continue a fire benefits charge. The department has been using an FBC model for partial funding since voters first approved it in 2006. The FBC was re-approved in 2012.

NOTE: Except for bond measures, levy totals are only estimates based on property value projections over the next four years.

Photo via Pierce County Elections