Key Peninsula Voters Tank Peninsula Schools Bond Measure

GIG HARBOR, WA - Boosters of the Peninsula School District bond measure are conceding that the measure has failed, coming within about one percentage point shy of passing. According to preliminary results, the measure failed in almost all Key Peninsula precincts from Purdy to Longbranch.

There are 51 voting precincts in the Peninsula School District, and the measure only failed in 1o of those precincts. However, all but two precincts on the Key Peninsula voted against the measure. Only two precincts (including one Fox Island) around Gig Harbor voted against the measure.

In total, 13,322 voted for the measure and 9,321 against. The measure needed a 60 percent super majority to pass, and was 1.17 percentage points away from that goal as of Friday.

If it had passed, the measure would've paid for a new elementary school north of Gig Harbor, renovations at Artondale Elementary and Gig Harbor High School, and other security and infrastructure upgrades. The measure would have increased property taxes by 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. But because another local levy will be reduced next year, overall taxes would have decreased by 3 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in the district.

The 26th Legislative District Democrats issued a press release Friday blaming Pierce County Republicans for tanking the levy.

"In contrast, Gig Harbor Republican Randy Boss organized the “No” campaign and actively opposed the bond. None of the legislative representatives from this district, all Republicans – Jan Angel, Jesse Young, and Michelle Caldier – endorsed or supported the bond. This is a disgrace and does not reflect the views of the electorate here, regardless of party affiliation," the Democrats said.

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