Early elections results showed Puyallup’s $800 million school bond failing April 22, and it’s unclear whether the measure would get enough total votes to meet the turnout threshold to pass.
The measure has 11,147 “yes” votes (58%) and 7,916 “no” votes (42%) on election night.
In order to pass, the bond needs to get 60% approval and get a total turnout rate that matches 40% of the previous election. For elections in 2025, officials base that on the turnout rate for the November 2024 election – which means 28,216 ballots need to be cast in order for the school bond to pass this election.
“I’m feeling disappointed and sad for our district — the need for the projects doesn’t go away if the bond fails,” Ellen Aronson, spokesperson for the “Yes” campaign, told The News Tribune.
As of 3:20 p.m. on April 23, there were 14,735 “yes” votes (60.9%) and 9,468 “no” votes (39.1%). That means the school bond reached the 60% supermajority requirement, but the bond was still 4,013 total votes short of the 28,216 turnout threshold needed to pass.
Aronson told the News Tribune on April 23 that, while she remains “cautiously optimistic,” she is skeptical the district will be able to get those additional 4,013 votes. The election is to be certified May 2.
In an email to The News Tribune, Sarah Gillispie — spokesperson for the school district — said staff are looking into school closures.
“While we are grateful that results posted today show an approval rating of 60.88%, we recognize the challenge in obtaining the additional 4,013 votes needed to validate the measure. Moving forward, we will continue to assess our district’s needs, including addressing overcrowding and aging infrastructure,” Gillispie wrote. “The Puyallup School Board has asked the School Capacity and Utilization Task Force (SCUT) to evaluate the potential impacts of closing Spinning and Waller Road Elementary Schools, with a report due in January 2026.”
If passed, the bond would allow the district to expand three high schools; replace Mt. View, Spinning and Waller Road elementary schools; and build a new elementary school near Emerald Ridge High School and Glacier View Junior High.
“My kids haven’t been able to go to remodeled schools and they probably won’t before their time at the Puyallup School District is done,” Aronson said. “I just really want other students and other families to be able to go to nice, bright, shiny schools that have enough room for every student in them ... . It’s mixed emotions (but) I’m still trying to be optimistic and hopeful.”
The News Tribune reached out to Steve Beck, the head of the “No” campaign, and did not get an immediate response.
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This is the second time this year that the school district has put this bond measure before voters. In February, the bond got a 63% approval rate but was a couple thousand votes short of the 40% overall voter turnout threshold.
In 2024, voters approved a capital levy with a six-year property tax rate increase that brought rates up by 87 cents, starting this year. Voters went from paying $3.27 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $4.14. If this bond passes, voters will pay this amount for 21 years instead of six years.
An owner of a $600,000 house pays $2,484 a year with that rate.
The News Tribune archives contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify that, while early results showed 58 percent of voters approving the measure, the bond proposal needs 60 percent to pass. It also needs a total voter turnout of 28,216.
This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 8:28 PM.