The $800M Puyallup school bond had 63 percent approval, but still failed. Here's why
The Puyallup School District's $800 million bond failed because not enough voters cast ballots in the special election last week. Now, the school district will put the same measure before voters again in two months.
PSD's school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to put the bond measure on the April 22 special election ballot.
'The primary reason for us pursuing the April ballot is to maintain the momentum that we have gained in informing our community about a variety of challenges,' Sarah Gillispie, the school district's executive director of communications and public engagement, told The News Tribune Wednesday.
In order to pass, the bond needs a 60% majority — which it got in the Feb. 11 election — but it also needs to reach a specific number of total votes in order to be approved. While officials are still counting ballots, so far only 25,408 votes have been recorded — far less than the 28,216 required. Any remaining votes won't be enough for the measure to pass.
Of the ballots that have come in, 16,093 people (63.34%) voted 'yes' and 9,315 people (36.66%) voted 'no,' according to the Pierce County Auditor's Office.
This crowded Pierce County school district has 221 portables and is asking for $800M
The same turnout threshold of 28,216 ballots will be in place during the April election. The requirement is 40% of the turnout during the most recent general election — a higher barrier to clear following a presidential election year.
'We really want to encourage everyone to participate in the voting process,' Gillispie said. 'If Proposition 1 does not pass the second time, future funding measures may require tax increases to address the same needs.'
The bond would expand three high schools and also replace and expand Mt. View, Spinning and Waller Road elementary schools.
'The school district has over 200 portables district-wide and a lot of that pressure is at the high-school level,' Gillispie said. 'So three of our high schools would be expanded due to our reliance on portables. Then, out of our 22 elementary schools, we have the three elementary schools that have received the worst building condition scores and they are in critical need of replacement and repair.'
The bond would also allow the school district to build a new elementary school near Emerald Ridge High School and Glacier View Junior High.
'We're projected to receive approximately 1,000 students over the next 10 years,' Gillispie said. 'So that new elementary will provide a spot for that growth and also relieve pressure on the surrounding elementary schools.'
Last year, voters agreed to a six-year property-tax rate increase from $3.27 to $4.14 per $1,000 of assessed value as part of a capital levy. That increase takes effect this year. The new bond, if approved in April, would keep that rate in effect for 21 years.
The owner of a $600,000 home in Puyallup pays $2,484 in property taxes to the Puyallup School District every year under that rate.
Some residents posted on social media that they didn't receive their ballots for the Feb. 11 special election. A few also posted that they had trouble voting, because a drop box on East 72nd Street near Waller Road Elementary School was locked during the election due to it not being in school district boundaries.
Resident Ellen Aronson, who was part of the 'yes' campaign, said she hadn't heard such complaints. Gillispie, the school district spokesperson, said the same.
The Pierce County Auditor's Office told The News Tribune they have not seen anything out of the ordinary for a February special election. They didn't have more complaints than usual.
'A couple of people called on Election Day, but this is what happens every special,' Kyle Haugh, the elections manager for the Pierce County Auditor's Office, told The News Tribune Wednesday. 'February election turnout is traditionally very low.'
Haugh said that in order for a drop box to be open during a special election, it has to be located in the school district and has to have received 1% of ballots cast in the previous election. For example, if the November election had 1,000 ballots cast, a drop box would need to have received 10 ballots in order to be unlocked during the February election.
'We don't generally open [boxes that get less than 1%] because it costs money to open them and collect from them every day,' Haugh said.
Ballots can also be postmarked for free.
When asked how much this special election cost, Haugh said it is too early to say because the Auditor's Office is still counting and finalizing ballots. The 2024 special election cost the Puyallup School District about $216,000.
'Every special election is different, we have to bill the exact cost,' Haugh said. 'But they're not cheap to run.'
Gillispie said the district pays for its special elections through its general fund. When bonds pass, the district can use that money to cover some of the costs of a special election.
'The district takes great care in determining when and how often to present ballot measures to our community,' Gillispie said in a statement to The News Tribune. 'It is crucial to understand that state funding alone is not sufficient to cover the full costs of operating, maintaining, and building schools. As a result, school districts like ours depend on local bonds and levies to bridge this funding gap.'
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