Early election results for property tax, annexation votes in East Pierce County cities
The Pierce County Auditor’s Office released the first round of election results Tuesday evening. Here’s what East Pierce County voters think so far about Buckley, Eatonville and South Pierce Fire & Rescue’s proposals.
City of Buckley
Early election results show 472 votes (about 64 percent) so far are for Proposition No. 1, while 270 (about 36 percent) are against it. The measure needs a simple majority to pass.
Buckley wants to increase the city’s emergency medical services property tax levy from 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, The News Tribune reported in July.
If approved, the average owner of a $500,000 home would pay $8.33 per month.
The increase would help provide sustainable funding to provide emergency medical services in the city, according to the voters’ pamphlet. The committee in support of the measure wrote in the pamphlet that a “yes” vote would ensure “continued delivery of life-saving care.”
There was no committee against the measure featured in the voters’ pamphlet.
Town of Eatonville and South Pierce Fire & Rescue
Eatonville wants to annex into South Pierce Fire & Rescue for continued fire protection and emergency medical services from the agency. By annexing, the town would be included within the fire department’s taxing boundaries and service area.
Early election results show 2,509 votes so far (about 79 percent) in South Pierce Fire & Rescue’s jurisdiction are for Proposition No. 1 while 655 (about 21 percent) are against it. About 297 votes (77%) in Eatonville so far are for annexation and about 87 (23%) are against it.
“If a majority of the registered voters within the Town and a majority of the registered voters within SPFR approve the annexation, the Town will be deemed to be within the taxing boundaries and service area of SPFR, effective immediately upon certification of the election results,” according to Pierce County’s online voter guide. “If this measure passes, all regular property taxes that may be levied by SPFR within the town shall be deducted from the regular property taxes that may be levied by the Town.”
The town already contracts with SPFR for services. Interim South Pierce Fire Chief Zane Gibson told The News Tribune in July that annexation would allow taxpayers to pay the fire department directly, instead, and have a say in future ballot measures.
The voters’ pamphlet did not have a “statement for” or a “statement against” the measure.
The next round of results will be released at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at piercecountywa.gov/328/Elections. Results will be certified Aug. 20.
This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 8:21 PM.
