Tacoma voters favor street-repair tax measure in early primary results

Tacoma Proposition 1 was leading in the first primary results Tuesday night, with voters favoring a proposed tax package for street repairs, sidewalks and transportation safety.

Pierce County’s Report 1, issued at 8:05:46 p.m. on August 4, showed 14,309 votes for the measure, or 57.51%, and 10,570 votes against it, or 42.49%.

The result was preliminary, not a final approval. The report covered 710 of 745 Pierce County precincts, and additional counts and certification were still pending. Any August 5 update should be checked before publication.

What the early count showed

The Tacoma contest included 26,226 ballots. Election officials recorded 12 overvotes and 1,335 undervotes. The Yes and No totals added up to 24,879 votes recorded for a clear choice.

The next official county or state update could change the margin. Residents should check the Pierce County election-results report or Washington’s VoteWA results portal before treating the measure as approved.

What Proposition 1 would do

Proposition 1, called Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks, asks voters to authorize two tax increases beginning in 2027 if the measure receives final approval.

The measure would impose an additional 1.5% utility tax on the gross revenues of natural-gas, electric and phone services. It also would increase Tacoma’s regular property-tax levy by $0.20 per $1,000 of assessed value. The ballot materials describe both increases as lasting 10 years, with the property-tax levy using the 2027 amount as the basis for later levies through 2036.

The official explanatory statement estimates the property-tax increase at about $101.52 a year, or $8.46 a month, for an average homeowner based on a $508,000 home. It estimates the utility tax at approximately $23.64 a year, or $1.97 a month, for a typical household. Those are official estimates, not confirmed charges for every household; actual effects would depend on assessed value and utility-service costs.

Where the money could go

Official ballot materials dedicate the revenue to the Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks program. Listed uses include street paving, pothole repairs, street maintenance, sidewalks, traffic safety, safe routes to schools and neighborhood connections.

The explanatory statement also lists traffic calming, street lighting, multimodal improvements, greenways and ADA accessibility upgrades. The measure establishes eligible transportation purposes but does not, by itself, identify a specific construction schedule or guarantee a particular project at a particular location.

Why Tacoma residents are watching

If approved, the measure could affect Tacoma utility customers through their natural-gas, electric or phone bills and property owners through the regular city property-tax levy. Renters could experience indirect effects through household or business costs, although the ballot measure directly applies to utilities and property taxes.

Commuters, pedestrians, students and families would have an interest in how the city prioritizes paving, pothole repairs, sidewalks, school routes and neighborhood connections. Local businesses could also be affected by transportation conditions and access to commercial areas, but the measure does not promise a fixed list of projects or timelines.

For now, Proposition 1 was ahead but unofficial in the August 4 report. Tacoma voters should consult the latest Pierce County or VoteWA update on August 5 and later certification before concluding whether the proposed 2027 taxes will take effect.

Sources

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