Gig Harbor transportation Prop. 1 is approved by voters; sales tax would fund street projects

The Gig Harbor transportation sales tax measure, Prop. 1, was being approved by a solid majority of voters in the latest election returns.

The vote was 2,334, or 56.9% in favor, and 1,763, or 43% against, in results reported at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12. Updates will be released each weekday until Nov. 24

The measure would authorize the Gig Harbor Transportation Benefit District to levy a two-tenths of a cent tax on retail sales within the city. That would raise the city’s sales tax from 8.5 percent to 8.7 percent.

The district would then fund a defined list of street projects, including three projects on Stinson Avenue, metering lights on the Burnham Drive roundabout, and several improvements to congested onramps to Highway 16. The projects total about $85 million.

Turnout was relatively high at 50.4 percent of registered Gig Harbor voters.

Because it is a sales tax, not a property tax, the measure does not require a supermajority of 60 percent. A simple majority is enough.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated incorrectly that a supermajority is required.

This story was originally published November 5, 2019 at 12:00 AM.