UPDATE: Puyallup School Bond Fails in Special Election

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The school district’s proposed school bond for facility and technology improvements fell short of the required 60 percent supermajority of yes votes needed to pass the measure, according to unofficial results of the February 12, 2013 Special Election.

“The school board will look at this again and decide next steps" said Puyallup School Board Director Greg Heath.

Superintendent Tim Yeomans added, “Fifty-five percent of the people who chose to vote understand the need and the urgency to move students from portables to permanent classrooms.”

The Pierce County Auditor’s Office reported on election night that the bond received 54.49 percent (12,888 yes votes) compared to 45.51 percent (10,765 no votes.)

Early results indicate the bond measure fell less than 6 percent short of the state-required 60 percent supermajority of yes votes.

State law requires that voter turnout be at least 40 percent of the previous general election and that 60 percent of those voting support the measure for it to be successful. In Puyallup, there needed to be 22,588 people voting with 13,553 of them voting yes for the school bond to pass.

This is the fourth time in the past six years that district has gone to voters with a school bond proposal. Voters narrowly rejected a bond measure twice in 2007 and defeated a bond and capital levy package in 2009.

This year’s bond proposed building a new elementary school, adding classrooms to existing elementary and high schools, making improvements at aging schools, and supplying all classrooms with equitable technology.

Puyallup is the ninth largest school district in the state with more than 20,500 students.

RESULTS (updated Feb. 13, 7 p.m.)