Tacoma homeowners will see a new line on their property tax bills starting in 2027 after voters approved the Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks levy on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Proposition 1 passed with 57.51% of the vote in the first round of unofficial results from Pierce County Elections, The News Tribune reported, clearing the simple-majority threshold needed. Pierce County will certify the results on Aug. 18.

The 10-year levy combines a $0.20-per-$1,000 property tax increase with a 1.5% utility tax on natural gas, electric and phone service. City officials estimate the combined cost at about $125 per year for an average-value home, broken down as roughly $8.46 per month in property taxes and $1.97 per month in utility taxes.

What the money buys

The city projects the taxes will generate $200 million in direct revenue and leverage another $120 million in state and federal grants, totaling $320 million over the decade. That works out to about $20 million per year in local collections plus $12 million in outside funding.

Half the money is earmarked for street safety improvements. Another 26% goes toward neighborhood street quality, and 24% toward connections to transit, schools and businesses.

Mayor's reaction

"It's not lost on me how big of a decision this was for people and our economy," Mayor Anders Ibsen said on election night. "We are going to work tirelessly to ensure that we're putting this money to the most productive, responsible use to move the needle on making our neighborhoods safer, more attractive, and more productive."

The levy arrives as Tacoma faces a $40 million deficit in its 2027-2028 budget. City leaders have said certain road safety projects would not be possible without a new streets initiative.

The day before the vote, Council Member Sandesh Sadalge told The News Tribune he feared "ever being able to do anything if Proposition 1 doesn't pass," citing the budget shortfall.

Second try succeeds

This is the second time Tacoma voters weighed a streets levy in roughly 16 months. A previous version failed in April 2025. That measure would have been permanent and carried higher rates: a 2% utility tax and $0.25 per $1,000 property tax. The scaled-back 2026 version won over a majority.

The levy replaces the original Tacoma Streets Initiative voters approved in 2015, which expired in late 2025 and early 2026.

Turnout and opposition

As of Monday, Aug. 3, Pierce County Elections reported just 22,039 ballots received from Tacoma's 136,327 active voters, a 16.17% return rate. Additional ballots returned on Election Day and afterward will be counted before the Aug. 18 certification, meaning the final margin could shift slightly.

Steven Cook, a member of the committee that wrote the voter-pamphlet statement against Prop. 1, said he was "surprised that so many people want to pay more in taxes." The opposition argued the levy would raise rents.

Qualifying seniors and others are exempt from the property tax increase under state law (RCW 84.36.381).

What happens next

Pierce County certifies results on Aug. 18. Collections begin in 2027. Residents can track updated tallies at piercecountywa.gov. The city has not committed to a specific project list, saying it will prioritize based on changing maintenance needs and existing capital plans.