Ballots went out for February special election. Here’s what you need to know
Voters in 10 of Pierce County’s 15 school districts will vote in a special election next month on school tax measures – but only one district is proposing a new bond measure.
The University Place School District is proposing a $295 million bond to build two new primary schools and renovate Curtis High School. If Prop 2 passes in the University Place School District, the district could qualify for an additional $60 million in state assistance to cover the costs of the projects, according to the district.
The district estimates that the 20-year bond, which requires 60% of the vote to be approved, would mean a tax rate of $2.25 per $1,000 of assessed value. For the owner of a house with an assessed value of $529,641, which was the average in Pierce County in 2025, the annual cost would be about $1,191. That could change over time with shifting tax rates, the district said. Voters in the district last approved a bond measure in February 2006 for $86 million, which will be repaid by 2027.
The beginning rate that the district estimates for the new bond is lower than the beginning rate for the 2006 bond, which was $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value, according to the district’s website. In 2025, the 2006 bond’s rate had fallen to $0.73 per $1,000 of assessed value.
In addition to improvements to athletic and recreational facilities at various sites across the district, the bond would fund the replacement of Sunset Primary and Chamber Primary, with improved access and parking, according to the district. It also would fund the renovation or replacement of classroom buildings at Curtis High School, including a new performing arts center and a new main school building.
The bond is one of three tax measures the district is putting on the ballot in February, the other two being replacement levies for educational programs and operations, and safety, technology and capital improvements. The nine other school districts in Pierce County that have tax measures on the ballot also have replacement tax measures, which cover costs similar to those of the University Place School Districts’ replacement levies.
The Peninsula School District, for example, plans to use revenue from its replacement levy to boost investments in athletic field maintenance. That includes hiring a dedicated crew of four with “specific expertise in grass athletic field grounds maintenance … responsible for proactive management of all athletic fields,” said Ashley Murphy, the district’s chief financial officer.
The News Tribune previously reported that parents are concerned about the state of the district’s high school baseball fields and noticeable drainage issues, urging the district to install artificial turf instead. Murphy said that this levy doesn’t include enough money for turfing the fields.
If their tax measure is approved, Peninsula also plans to spend some levy dollars on a new orchestra program, starting at the elementary and middle school levels. It also is exploring a program that would “allow homeschool students to participate in a public school for curriculum support, classes, resources, and teacher guidance,” Chief of Schools Michael Farmer wrote in an emailed statement.
Pierce County officials mailed out ballots for the Feb. 10 special election on Jan. 23, and in-person voter registration is available through 8 p.m. on Election Day, according to the county.
Pierce County elections is projecting a 25% voter turnout. Ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day or placed in a drop box by 8 p.m. Voters can find a list of ballot drop boxes on the county’s website.
The News Tribune compiled a complete list of the tax measures on the ballot, with the rate and potential cost to residents. For more information about the assessed value of your property, visit the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer website.
White River School District
Prop 1: Replacement educational programs and operations levy, starting at $2.06 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2027. For the owner of a house with an assessed value of $529,641, which was the average in Pierce County in 2025, the annual cost would be about $1,091.
Prop 2: Replacement capital projects levy (technology and critical repairs), starting at $0.52 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2027. For the average house in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $275 annually.
University Place School District
Prop 1: Replacement educational programs and operations levy, $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection starting in 2027. For the average house in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $1,324 annually.
Prop 2: Bonds to replace and renovate deteriorating buildings and improve safety, no more than $295,000,000. The district is estimating a tax rate of $2.25 per $1,000 of assessed value. For the average house in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $1,191 annually.
Prop 3: Replacement safety, technology and capital improvements levy, $0.20 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection starting in 2027. For the average house in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $105 annually.
Peninsula School District
Prop 1: Replacement educational programs and operations levy, $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection starting in 2027. For a house assessed at the Pierce County average in 2025, that’s about $688 annually.
Franklin Pierce School District
Prop 1: Replacement educational programs and operations levy, $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection starting in 2027. For the average house in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $1,324 annually.
Prop 2: Replacement safety, technology and capital improvements levy, $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection starting in 2027. For the average house in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $529 annually.
Puyallup School District
Prop 1: Replacement educational programs and operations levy, $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection starting in 2027. For the average house in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $1,324 annually.
Tacoma School District
Prop 1: Replacement of expiring levy for K-12 educational programs and operations, $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection starting in 2027. For a house assessed at the Pierce County average house in 2025, that’s about $1,324 annually.
Prop 2: Replacement of expiring levy for K-12 technology improvements and upgrades, starting at $0.84 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2027. For the average house in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $444 annually.
Orting School District
Prop 1: Replacement of expiring educational programs and operations levy, $2.00 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection starting in 2027. For a house assessed at the Pierce County average in 2025, that’s about $1,059 annually.
Fife School District
Prop 1: Renewal of expiring educational programs and operation levy, $1.97 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection starting in 2027. For the average house in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $1,043 annually.
Dieringer School District
Prop 1: Replacement educational programs and operations levy, $1.83 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection starting in 2027. For the average house in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $969 annually.
Prop 2: Capital levy to restore, improve and replace school infrastructure and technology, starting at $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2027. For the average house in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $688 annually.
Bethel School District
Prop 1: Replacement of expiring educational programs and operations levy, $2.17 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection starting in 2027. For the average house in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $1,149 annually.
Prop 2: Replacement of expiring levy for technology improvements, $0.31 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection starting in 2027. For the average house in Pierce County in 2025, that’s about $164 annually.
