Special election results: See how school levies are faring across Pierce County
Some school levies in Pierce County appeared to be passing Tuesday while others were behind after the first vote tallies from February’s special election.
Pierce County’s largest school district, Tacoma Public Schools, appeared to be passing both of its levies with more than 65 percent of the vote. School levies require a simple majority to pass, or 50 percent of voters plus one. University Place, Franklin Pierce, Fife, White River, Steilacoom and Orting school districts were passing their levies, early results showed. Dieringer was passing two of three levies.
Voters were failing the levies in the two next largest school districts in Pierce County: Bethel and Puyallup. Dieringer also had one failing levy.
The next round of election results were expected to drop 4:30 p.m. Wednesday on the Pierce County Auditor’s Office website.
Tacoma Public Schools Superintendent Josh Garcia told The News Tribune on Tuesday evening he is thankful voters and community organizations showed up to support Tacoma’s schools.
“My heart is filled with gratitude for our voters,” he said.
Garcia previously told The News Tribune that the levy funding was critical to the day-to-day operations of the district. Tacoma’s Prop. 1 funds 15 percent of day-to-day operations, he said, including about 500 staff members that would otherwise be cut without the funding.
“I can’t imagine us being able to run our organization with 15 percent less staff,” Garcia previously said.
Tacoma’s Proposition 1 was passing with 65.05 percent yes on Tuesday evening. Prop. 1 funds general programs and operations, including staff, preschool, after-school programs and security. Prop. 1 will collect taxes up to $77.5 million in 2023, $79 million in 2024, $80.5 million in 2025 and $82 million in 2026. The tax levy rate is estimated to be $1.92 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Proposition 2 was passing with 65.48 percent yes on Tuesday and funds technology improvements and upgrades, like laptops for all and online security. Prop. 2 will collect taxes totaling $25 million in 2023 and then $31 million each year for 2024, 2025 and 2026. The tax levy rate is estimated to be $0.62 in 2023; $0.75 in 2024; $0.74 in 2025; and $0.72 in 2026.
Prop. 1 will collect about $319 million and Prop. 2 will collect $118 million for a total of $437 million over the course of four years.
The cost to the average Tacoma homeowner is projected to be about $13 more per month, or $9.43 per month for Prop. 1 and $3.63 for Prop. 2. According to the Pierce County Assessor Treasurer, the average home value in Tacoma in February 2021 was $352,322.
The average four-year tax rate for Tacoma schools is projected to decrease due to rising property values, from $2.72 per $1,000 to $2.63 per $1,000 of assessed value.
According to the district, over the past four years the average Tacoma home owner has been paying $973 annually, or $81.11 per month. With the approval of Prop 1 and 2, over the next four years they will be paying $94.13 per month, or $1,129 annually.
Nine other school districts in Pierce County sought levy approvals. Here are the results as of Tuesday:
Puyallup School District
Prop. 1, Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy: Currently failing at 48.66 percent.
- About $267 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowner estimated at $2.49 per $1,000 of assessed value for 2023, and $2.46 per $1,000 for 2024-26.
Funds teachers, nurses, instructional materials, arts, music, athletics, maintenance.
Prop. 2, Capital Levy for Safety, Security, Infrastructure and Technology Improvements: Currently failing at 47.20 percent.
- About $125 million to be collected over six years (2023-28).
- Cost to homeowner estimated between $0.67 and $0.82 per $1,000 of assessed value for 2023-28.
- Funds fire protection, security upgrades, site/building and technology improvements, transportation and maintenance.
Bethel School District
Prop. 1, Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy: Currently failing at 40.80 percent.
- About $172.3 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowner estimated at $2.17 per $1,000 assessed value per year.
- Funds teacher salaries, athletics, arts, music, special education, buildings, transportation, and other educational programs and operations expenses.
Prop. 2, Replacement Levy for Technology Improvements: Currently failing at 43.72 percent.
- About $24.4 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowner estimated at $0.31 per $1,000 of assessed value per year.
Funds technology equipment and infrastructure, computers and devices, hardware and software, staff training and cyber security systems.
Franklin Pierce School District
Prop. 1, Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy: Currently passing at 51.26 percent.
- About $88 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowner estimated at $2.50 per $1,000 assessed value per year.
- Funds classroom teachers, safety personnel, health services, librarians and counselors, student transportation, programs for special needs students, textbooks, classroom supplies and library materials, music, art and athletic programs.
Prop. 2, Replacement Levy for Instructional Technology Improvements: Currently passing at 54.07 percent.
- About $14.3 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowner estimated at $0.41 per $1,000 assessed value per year.
- Funds installation and modernization of instructional technology equipment, infrastructure, systems and facilities.
University Place School District
Prop. 1, Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy: Currently passing at 65.38 percent.
- About $67.7 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowners estimated at $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value per year.
- Funds teachers, nurses, counselors, safety personnel, athletics, music, instructional materials, staff training, after-school activities, summer academic programs and student supports.
Prop. 2, Replacement Levy for Safety, Technology and Capital Improvements: Currently passing by 66.80 percent.
- About $11.8 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowners estimated at $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value per year.
- Funds repairs and improvements to buildings, HVAC systems, technology, plumbing and electrical systems, roofs, athletic fields, and security infrastructure throughout the district and invest in additional classroom technology for staff and students.
Fife School District
Prop. 1, Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy: Currently passing at 55.48 percent.
- About $45 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowners estimated at $1.81 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2023, $1.77 in 2024, and $1.74 in 2025 and 2026.
- Funds employee salaries, instructional materials, special programs, activities and sports, transportation costs and maintenance of facilities.
Prop. 2, Replacement Capital Projects Technology Levy: Currently passing at 57.62 percent.
- About $14 million to be collected over six years (2023-28).
- Cost to homeowners estimated at $0.34 per $1,000 of assessed value per year.
- Funds computers and devices, updated and expanded learning software, staff training and technology infrastructure improvements.
Orting School District
Prop. 1, Replacement Educational Programs And Operations Levy: Currently passing at 53.09 percent.
- About $28.3 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowners estimated at $1.88 per $1,000 of assessed value per year.
- Funds after school activities and athletics, classroom instructional materials, early learning, instructional technology, safety and security enhancements, special education services, staffing and substitutes, transportation and maintenance.
Steilacoom Historical School District
Prop. 1, Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy: Currently passing by 62.27 percent.
- About $36.6 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowners estimated at $1.45 per $1,000 assessed value in 2023, and $1.93 in 2024-26.
- Funds student technology and salaries for teachers, nurses, counselors and other school student support staff, including for the new elementary school.
Dieringer School District
Prop. 1, Replacement Educational Programs And Operations Levy: Currently passing by 52.53 percent.
- About $24.5 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowners estimated at $1.85 per $1,000 assessed value per year.
Funds staffing, supplies and materials, transportation services, extracurricular programs, special education, utilities and facility maintenance.
Prop. 2, Replacement Instructional Technology Improvements Levy: Currently passing by 51.33 percent.
- About $6.9 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowners estimated at $0.56 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2023, $0.55 in 2024, $0.53 in 2025, and $0.52 in 2026.
- Funds new technologies into classroom instruction, increased access to technology devices, replacements and upgrades to equipment and systems, and student and staff training.
Prop. 3, Capital Levy for Health, Safety, Security & Infrastructure Improvements: Currently failing at 48.42 percent.
- About $18.6 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowners estimated at $1.46 per $1,000 of assessed value per year.
- Funds upgrades to security systems, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, lighting, Career and Technical Education classrooms, roof repairs and athletic field improvements.
White River School District
Prop. 1, Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy: Currently passing at 51 percent, or 2,135 yes votes.
- About $49.6 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowners estimated at $2.19 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2023, $2.22 in 2024, $2.23 in 2025, and $2.24 in 2026.
- Funds early learning, special education costs, nursing and mental health services, student and staff security, athletics, music, drama and arts programs.
Prop. 2, Capital Projects Levies (Technology and Critical Repairs): Currently passing at 51.37 percent, or 2,162 yes votes.
- About $12.1 million to be collected over four years (2023-26).
- Cost to homeowners estimated at $0.49 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2023, $0.52 in 2024, and $0.57 in 2025 and 2026.
- Funds modernization of existing facilities, including structural, safety and energy repairs at White River High School, paving and road improvements, roofing repairs to the District Distribution Center and other facilities and improvements to technology.
This story was originally published February 8, 2022 at 9:03 PM.
