Tacoma renters who currently have no way to enforce tenant protections without hiring a lawyer could gain a city-funded enforcement office this fall.
That's one of at least five measures heading to the Nov. 3 general election ballot that will directly affect how residents pay for housing, ride the bus and hold law enforcement accountable.
Pierce County finalized its ballot Tuesday, Aug. 4, accepting seven charter amendments and eight municipal resolutions by the 4:30 p.m. deadline, according to the Tacoma News Tribune. Here's what Tacoma residents need to know.
Safe Homes For All: a rental license fee to enforce tenant rights
The biggest new item for Tacoma renters is the Safe Homes For All initiative, placed on the ballot through a citizen petition drive led by the organization Tacoma For All. The Pierce County Auditor's Office confirmed the petition cleared the required 4,989 valid signatures after staff reviewed 1,687 pages of petitions submitted June 18.
It also establishes a rental licensing program, expanded landlord education requirements and increased enforcement tools, funded by a new per-unit rental license fee. The specific fee amount has not been publicly disclosed.
Charter Amendment 53: appointed sheriff replaces elected one
Pierce County voters will decide whether to make the sheriff an appointed position rather than an elected one. Under Amendment 53, the Pierce County Executive would appoint the sheriff and a majority of the County Council would confirm. If approved, the change would unseat current Sheriff Keith Swank.
The amendment is one of seven produced by the 21-member Pierce County Charter Review Commission, a once-in-a-decade body that spent six months debating changes before concluding its work in June. Commission Chair Kelsey Barrans and Vice Chair Martha Lantz signed the transmittal letter to Auditor Linda Farmer on June 30.
Charter Amendment 54: Public Safety Ombuds
Amendment 54 would create a Public Safety Ombuds office with independent oversight authority over the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. Structured as a new executive department, the office could subpoena information and witnesses, publish findings and refer complaints to legal authorities. The officeholder would serve a four-year term, could not be a current or recent law enforcement employee, and could only be removed for cause by a two-thirds council vote.
Charter Amendment 58: juvenile detention advocate at Remann Hall
A new Juvenile Detention Advocate Office at Remann Hall would receive complaints, monitor conditions and comply with mandatory-reporter regulations under Amendment 58. The office director would be appointed by Superior Court. The facility would also face an independent audit or accreditation review at least every five years.
The amendment arrives as Pierce County has approved millions of dollars in settlements over abuse claims at Remann Hall, most involving incidents more than 20 years old.
Pierce Transit sales tax increase: 3 cents per $10
Pierce Transit is asking voters to raise its sales tax rate from 0.6% to 0.9%, an increase of 3 cents on every $10 in taxable purchases. The agency has held its rate steady since 2002 and failed to win voter approval for increases in 2011 and 2012.
If approved, the higher rate would generate roughly $64 million a year starting April 2027, funding expanded bus routes, extended morning, evening, weekend and special-event service, and free rides for people over 65.
"Without new funding sources, we cannot increase services in the future … This measure is one way to secure that funding," Pierce Transit official Penny Grellier said in a July 24 News Tribune report on the proposal.
What else is on the ballot
The Nov. 3 election also includes three Pierce County Council races, state legislative contests and a statewide millionaire's tax measure. Ballots will go out to nearly 600,000 active registered voters across Pierce County's 114 jurisdictions.
