Election results: Will downtown Puyallup get a new fire station at the fairgrounds?
Election results for the April 23 special election are here. Here’s where levies from two local fire agencies stand.
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue levy
According to the Pierce County Auditor’s Office, 13,888 votes (about 53 percent) are for Central Pierce Fire & Rescue’s levy proposal as of April 24. 12,433 (about 47 percent) are against it.
The measure needed a simple majority to pass.
“On behalf of the men and women of Central Pierce, I want to express our gratitude to everyone who took the time to vote ... While the results look promising, the outcome of Proposition 1 ... will not be fully known until certified on May 3rd,” Central Pierce Fire Chief Dustin Morrow wrote in an email April 24.
Morrow said the regular fire levy represents a “significant” part of the fire district’s budget. It also impacts the fire district’s ability to offer emergency services, he said.
Central Pierce asked voters to restore its regular fire levy rate to $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The current rate is 73 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The increase would help renovate a station in Parkland and a station in South Hill. It would also help open a new station at the Puyallup fairgrounds and refurbish vehicles, The News Tribune reported earlier this month.
If voters approve the measure, the owner of a $550,000 home would pay an additional $12 per month. In total, that means the owner would pay about $45 per month.
If voters reject the measure, the fire district would have a revenue shortfall of $12.5 million in 2025. The district might also have to reassess its service levels, facilities and staffing, The News Tribune reported.
East Pierce Fire and Rescue levy
A total of 9,199 votes (about 56 percent) so far are for East Pierce Fire & Rescue’s levy proposal. 7,259 (about 44 percent) are against it as of April 24.
The measure needs a simple majority to pass.
“While not certified, the current status of Proposition 1 indicates the measure will successfully pass. East Pierce Fire & Rescue is grateful for the continued support we receive from our community,” East Pierce Fire Chief Jon Parkinson wrote in an email April 30.
Parkinson said the fire district is committed to regularly evaluating its emergency services and focusing on fiscal responsibility.
East Pierce asked voters to restore its regular fire levy rate to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The current rate is $1.09 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The increase in taxpayer money will help pay for two response units and staffing for two fire stations. It will also help retain firefighters as a dozen of them are supported by a federal grant expiring in 2026, The News Tribune reported earlier this month.
The owner of a $500,000 home will pay an additional $17 per month.
If voters rejected the measure, the fire district would have had a revenue shortfall of $152,000 by 2025 and $3,051,000 by 2026. The district would have considered proposing it again or reducing its services or staffing, The News Tribune reported.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with current election results and with comments from the Central Pierce Fire and Rescue chief and the East Pierce Fire and Rescue chief.
This story was originally published April 23, 2024 at 8:24 PM.
