As Puyallup voters prepare to cast their ballots again on Proposition 1, many are asking about the reasons behind the revote. The answer lies in Washington State’s bond validation rules—where voter turnout, not just approval, determines whether a bond measure passes.

Why is Proposition 1 on the ballot again?

Proposition 1 was on the February 11th special election ballot and received more than 60% approval, surpassing the supermajority requirement. However, the measure did not meet the state’s required voter turnout threshold, meaning it could not be validated.

Washington State law requires that a bond measure meet two key requirements to pass:

• Approval: At least 60% of voters must vote "yes."
• Validation: At least 40% of the voters who participated in the previous November general election must turn out to vote on the bond.

Because turnout in the November 2024 general election was higher than usual, the number of votes required to validate the bond also increased. In February, the bond election fell 2,772 votes short of meeting this threshold, even though the measure was approved by 63.36% of voters.

Now, voters will have another opportunity to decide on Proposition 1 in the April 22 election. If turnout again fails to meet the threshold, the bond will not pass, regardless of how many people vote in favor.

What Does Proposition 1 Fund?

Proposition 1 is designed to modernize and expand schools to accommodate Puyallup’s growing student population. The bond measure would fund:

• Expanding Emerald Ridge, Puyallup, and Rogers High Schools to alleviate overcrowding.
• Replacing Mt. View, Spinning, and Waller Road Elementary Schools, which are aging and in need of major improvements.
• Building a new elementary school in the Sunrise Master Plan area to support projected population growth.

If Proposition 1 passes, the district would also qualify for up to $152.9M in state matching funds, reducing the long-term financial burden on local taxpayers.

Will This Increase My Taxes?

Proposition 1 seeks to maintain the current tax rate of $4.14 per $1,000 of assessed property value through a capital levy rollback. This means that the district is not requesting an increase in the property tax rate due to the bond.

The total tax rate includes:
 ✔ Existing bonds
 ✔ The Capital Levy
 ✔ The Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy

Unless affected by legislative action, this tax rate is expected to remain stable.

Be an Informed Voter

Voting on April 22 is critical, and every vote matters, regardless of how voters cast their ballots.

For more information on Proposition 1, visit the Puyallup School District website or attend an upcoming informational session. Http://www.puyallupsd.org/bond