PSD Bond Measure Update
The following is from a message sent out to parents of Puyallup students.
"Superintendent's Message: Puyallup School Board Advances Bond Measure to April 22 Ballot
Puyallup School District • 5 minutes ago • Wednesday, Feb 19 at 4:00 PM • Puyallup School District
Dear Puyallup School District Staff and Families,
On February 11, our community demonstrated strong support for Proposition 1, with 63.34% of voters approving the measure. While we are grateful to have met the approval threshold, the measure did not reach the required 40% voter turnout needed for validation.
In response, the Puyallup School Board has unanimously approved placing the bond measure on the April 22, 2025, special election ballot. This decision reflects our continued commitment to addressing the district’s most pressing facility needs, including addressing overcrowding, replacing aging buildings, and planning for future student growth.
Understanding the Bond Validation Process
For school bond measures to pass in Washington State, two criteria must be met:
Of those who vote, at least 60% must approve the measure.
At least 40% of voters who participated in the November 2024 general election must cast a ballot.
For the upcoming April 22, 2025, special election, this means 28,416 voters must cast a ballot. This is also the number we were required to reach with the recent February 11 special election. With approximately 26,800 ballots submitted in the latest election results update, we have fallen short of the required ballot count needed for validation.
Because voter participation was unusually high in November, the number of votes needed to validate this bond is also higher. This is why turnout in April’s election is critical. If these two criteria are not met, quite simply, the bond will not pass.
What Proposition 1 Means for Our Schools
This $800M bond allows us to maintain a stable tax rate of $4.14 per $1,000 of assessed property value by rolling back the voter-approved 2024 capital levy.
Proposition 1 will provide the funding necessary to:
Expand high school capacity at Emerald Ridge, Puyallup, and Rogers High Schools.
Replace and expand outdated elementary schools – Mt. View, Spinning, and Waller Road elementaries.
Build a new elementary school near Emerald Ridge High School and Glacier View Junior High in the Sunrise Master Plan area to support growing enrollment.
Additionally, if Proposition 1 is approved, the district will qualify for up to $152.9 million in state matching funds - money that will help offset future costs for local taxpayers and support other facility needs identified by our Bond Advisory Committee.
While this bond measure is structured to maintain the current tax rate, changes in state education funding could impact taxpayer rates in February 2026. However, those outcomes will not be determined until the 2025 legislative session concludes.
I encourage you to learn more about Proposition 1 and what it means for our students and schools by visiting www.puyallupsd.org/bond.
To make sure you are registered to vote on April 22, please visit VoteWa.gov.
Thank you for your continued support of the Puyallup School District.
In Service,
Dr. John Polm
Superintendent
Puyallup School District "
