Thurston 2023 Proposition 1
Welcome to Olympia Indivisible's Voter Education Page for 2023 Proposition 1, the Proposed Public Safety Tax
Proposition 1 will be on the Thurston 2023 ballot
What is the Public Safety Tax?
The proposed “Public Safety Tax” is a two-tenths of 1% sales and use tax for law enforcement protection purposes, according to county documents.
If approved, 60% of the money received would be retained by the county and 40% would be distributed to local cities on a per-capita basis.
The county intends to use 75% of its portion to support law enforcement services and associated infrastructure, including facilities, per the documents. The remaining 25% would fund additional prosecution and public defense services and election security infrastructure.
Arguments for and Against can be found in the Thurston Voters Pamphlet.
Proposition 1 Election Dates
Turning in your Ballot
Background
Thurston County Information:
The proposed “Public Safety Tax” is a two-tenths of 1% sales and use tax for law enforcement protection purposes, according to county documents.
If approved, 60% of the money received would be retained by the county and 40% would be distributed to local cities on a per-capita basis.
The county intends to use 75% of its portion to support law enforcement services and associated infrastructure, including facilities, per the documents. The remaining 25% would fund additional prosecution and public defense services and election security infrastructure.
Arguments for and Against can be found in the Thurston Voters Pamphlet.
Proposition 1 Election Dates
- October 20, 2023: ballots will be mailed.
- November 7, 2023: Election Day.
Turning in your Ballot
- If you’re an early voter, you should feel confident to return your ballot by mail, according to the Thurston County Auditor Office. Postal carriers are reliable, unbiased professionals who handle ballots with the utmost integrity. Your ballot is treated as 1st Class mail. It’s postage-paid. No need to apply a stamp.
- If you’re a late voter and plan to vote in the final week before Election Day, the Thurston County Auditor Office recommends that you use a ballot drop box. Find the closest Ballot Drop Box here.
- If you’re voting on election day, make sure to place your ballot in a USPS receptacle before the posted pick-up time. Only ballots postmarked by election day are counted.
Background
- The Olympian: Thurston County will ask voters to approve new sales tax for more law enforcement
- The JOLT: Thurston County mulls constructing own Election Center after election officers receive threatening mail
- The JOLT: New public safety tax up for vote this November
- The JOLT Reader Opinion: Why you should vote no on the Public Safety Tax?
Thurston County Information:
- Board of County Commissioners Vote to Include a Public Safety Tax on the Ballot for General Election RCW 82.14.450
- Proposition 1 - Public Safety Tax
- Thurston Voters Pamphlet
Argument "For" Vote Yes on Proposition 1! The County is underfunded and needs a mechanism to provide relief. This measure is supported by these local leaders:
Sheriff’s Department Sanders said: “The public safety tax will fund at least 28 additional patrol deputies to ensure every district has two deputies working at all times. This funding will allow our deputies to regularly have backup on 9-1-1 calls, or thoroughly investigate crimes, and meet the expectations of our community as a full service Sheriff’s Office.” Public Defense Thurston County Public Defense provides a lawyer for people accused of crimes who are unable to afford effective legal representation. Election Security The Thurston Ballot Processing Center facility needs to be expanded and security features added such as a vestibule with metal detectors that will serve as a public entrance, physical separation of observers and ballot processing, and a safe room. Cities 40% of the funds would be distributed to local cities |
Argument "Against" Vote NO on Proposition 1!
Sheriff Sanders says he needs the money for more deputies, even though there are existing funded vacancies that have not been filled. There is no published plan of what the funding will be used for by the cities. The community has not been given an opportunity to discuss public safety. A hearing discussing the specific proposals being funded would have increased the confidence of the public. From Jeff Sowers Opinion in The JOLT: "Sheriff Sanders claims that Thurston County has the second lowest rate of deputies per thousand residents in the state (.63 commissioned deputies per thousand residents), but looking at the widely referenced data from the Washington State Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, it can be seen that Thurston County is within the norm for the large urban counties in the state, which as a rule spend less per capita than the smaller rural counties due to their higher populations. Sheriff Sanders has not been clear about how the money will be spent. We are provided with a laundry list of things he hopes to use it for, like helicopters, a full-time mental health response team, a full-service traffic enforcement team, and a domestic violence response team, among other things. But the proposal is notably short on specifics" |
Remember to look for your ballot and don't forget to vote.