Taxes to improve Tacoma streets, build a new Fife fire station headed to voters
Four jurisdictions in Pierce County will put tax measures on the ballot during the Aug. 4 primary election.
The cities of Tacoma, Fircrest, a fire district in Fife and the town of Carbonado have voted to put tax measures on the ballot that support services like emergency services and infrastructure. Friday was the last day for jurisdictions to request that a tax measure go before voters in August.
Ballots for the Aug. 4 primary will go out on July 17, according to the county. Here’s what we know about the measures:
Tacoma streets initiative
In what the city of Tacoma is calling “Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks,” the city proposes a 1.5% increase in utility-earnings tax and an increase in property tax of $0.20 per $1,000 of assessed value.
City officials estimated that the utility tax would cost an additional $1.97 per month and the property tax would cost an additional $8.46 a month on average.
The funds from the 10-year tax hike would go towards improving street safety and the quality of neighborhood streets. It’s the city’s second attempt to pass a streets measure after its previous initiative expired and after voters rejected a measure that would have made it permanent last April.
Fircrest emergency medical services
The city of Fircrest is seeking voter approval for a six-year property tax of up to $0.50 or less per $1,000 of assessed value to pay for emergency medical services.
Fircrest contracts with the city of Tacoma for fire suppression and emergency medical services, and Fircrest will pay the funds raised from the tax to Tacoma as part of the contract, according to the city. The tax measure comes as Fircrest’s existing emergency services levy is on track to expire.
For the owner of a house with an assessed value of $529,641, which was the average in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $265 a year.
Fire Protection District No. 10
Fire Protection District No. 10, which serves parts of Fife, is proposing a $25 million bond to pay to acquire, construct and equip a new fire station. According to a news release from the district, that roughly would constitute an additional $0.29 per $1,000 of assessed value.
The agency estimates that would on average cost property owners about $174 per year, or approximately $14.50 per month, the release states. Bond measures require a higher threshold of votes to pass – 60% instead of the usual supermajority.
Carbonado emergency medical services
The town of Carbonado is proposing a $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value property tax to cover the cost of providing emergency medical services. If approved, the measure would constitute a six-year levy.
For the owner of a house with an assessed value of $529,641, which was the average in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $265 a year.
It comes as Carbonado’s existing emergency medical services levy is set to expire this year after voters last approved it in 2020.
