Special Election, April 22, 2025
Yakima County Official Local Voters’ Guide
Guía Electoral Oficial local del Condado de Yakima
Yakima County Proposition No. 1
Yakima County Emergency Communication Systems and Facilities
The Board of County Commissioners of Yakima County adopted Ordinance No. 1-2025 concerning a proposition to help fund both Yakima County and participating municipalities and fire districts emergency communication systems and facilities. This ballot proposition, if approved, will authorize the imposition and collection within Yakima County of a sales and use tax equal to two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) for a seven (7) year period, commencing in January 2026, and continuing through December 2032, to provide funds for costs associated with financing, design, acquisition, construction, equipping, operating, maintaining, remodeling, repairing, reequipping, and improvement of new county-wide emergency communication systems and facilities replacing current existing emergency communications systems.
Explanatory Statement
Passage of Proposition 1 would help fund emergency communications systems and facilities for Yakima County as well as other participating municipalities and fire districts throughout the County. If approved, it would allow, for seven (7)years, commencing in 2026 and continuing through 2032, the imposition of an additional local sales and use tax within Yakima County equal to two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) to be used for the purpose of providing funds for costs associated with new county-wide emergency communications systems and facilities for Yakima County, participating municipalities, and fire districts to replace the current and existing emergency communications systems. RCW 82.14.420 requires that any tax proceeds received must be used solely for costs associated with financing, design, acquisition, construction, equipping, operating, maintaining, remodeling, repairing, reequipping, and improvement of emergency communication systems and facilities.
Statement for
First responders need to be fast responders. Every second counts in an emergency. Proposition One will upgrade and seamlessly connect emergency communication systems up and down the Valley. It will help police, firefighters and EMTs communicate better and respond faster. The upgrade will be funded by a sales tax increase that will add 20 cents to every local $100 purchase. And it expires in seven years.
We need a new system. The current one is antiquated, does not cover the county and is managed by multiple agencies. Proposition One will consolidate communications, improve efficiencies and expand the coverage area.
Submitted by committee volunteer Dale Panattoni; dapanattoni@gmail.com
Statement against no committee volunteers
Voter Registration Information
If you need to register to vote or update your registration, visit www.votewa.gov or contact us: 509.574.1340 or 1.800.833.0569 www.yakimacounty.us/vote
Is it after April 14? Please contact our office on how to get registered or update your address.
Your signature is part of your vote! Make sure it counts.
iVote@co.yakima.wa.us
The signature on your ballot return envelope must match a signature in your voter registration record for your ballot to count.
•If you registered online, check the signature on your driver’s license or ID. That’s the signature we’re using to compare to your ballot signature.
•Your signature doesn’t need to be written in cursive or even be legible. It just needs to match what we already have on file for you.
Check the status of your ballot at www.votewa.gov. If the signature on your ballot isn’t similar to a signature in your voter registration record or if your signature is missing, don’t worry. You can still “cure” your ballot so it counts. We will contact you by mail, phone, email, and text.
Ballot return options
•Return your ballot by mail - no stamp needed. Your ballot must be postmarked by April 22 to count.
• Use an official ballot drop box. Drop boxes are open 24/7 until 8pm on April 22, election day All ballot drop boxes in Yakima County are open for this election. Please visit our website for a complete listing. www.yakimacounty.us/vote
Accessible voting options
Visit www.votewa.gov to access your ballot online or visit us at the Yakima County Elections office to use a voting unit that is designed for use with tactile switches, sip-and-puff devices or headphones.
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