In 2025, the Puyallup City Council • raised city property taxes by 6%, • raised electric, gas and cable taxes and fees by about 2%, • raised our debt limit to the maximum allowed without public vote, and • cut 7 positions from places like the Senior Center, Puyallup Library and Economic Development Manager, and reallocated transportation (roads, traffic) capital funds to renovate and rent a building for new police station on South Hill. The rented building is even more out of the way than the proposal to build on the land we own, and at a cost of over 50% more than what we voted down just 2 years ago.
Council also raised our monthly water rate this year 6.5%, sewer rate by 7.5%, stormwater fee by 16.5% … and raised our sales taxes from 10.1% to 10.2% without voter approval. The latter tax was done by council creating a whole new Transportation Tax District overlying city limits, and meant to start replenishing the money city council took out of the transportation capital fund for the police station renovation and rental. Council made themselves the new tax district commissioners!
Two of the incumbents who lead the charge and voted for all these tax increases are currently running for reelection, including District 1 member Jim Kastama, currently taking his turn as council’s mayor, and District 2 member Dennis King, taking a turn as deputy mayor. Puyallup Voters for Integrity is conducting a survey starting October 14th, 2025 of city residents to find out if people are aware of the new taxes and fees, whether voters agree, and if the tax increases affect who we should support in the current election.
Results of the survey will be used to inform PV4I on where to direct future resources to help keep candidates accountable when they are elected to city council. PV4I will publish blog posts every Tuesday through election day with survey updates. If you live inside city limits and are not registered to vote, first go to https://www.piercecountywa.gov/6572/Register-to-Vote and then click on the link below for the District survey corresponding to your address.
• District 1 Survey – Click if you are registered to vote inside Puyallup City Council District 1 boundaries. The survey focuses on the actions of the incumbent Jim Kastama who is taking a 2 year turn leading the council as mayor. Running to unseat him is candidate Jeff Bennett, a retired Puyallup Police Officer now working in the solar industry who lists fiscal responsibility as the first priority on his website’s issue page.
• District 2 Survey – Click if you are registered to vote inside Puyallup City Council District 2 boundaries. The survey focuses on the actions of the incumbent Dennis King who is taking a 2 year turn on the council as deputy mayor. Running to unseat him is candidate Heather Schiller, former chair of the Puyallup Planning Commission and an insurance industry professional who promises fiscal responsibility second on her website’s issue page after infrastructure improvements.
• District 3 Survey – Click if you are registered to vote in Puyallup City Council District 3 boundaries. The survey focuses on two candidates running for an open seat as incumbent Julie Door is term-limited. Running with no website but claims of support on his facebook page from a majority of other city council members is candidate Mark Crosby, versus candidate Lindsay Smolko who is a STEM Teacher emphasizing on her website equity, inclusivity, and transparency in local government.
Click the link above corresponding to your voting district. See districts map below for reference.
Please consider a donation of any amount, and invite your friends to like our Facebook page. Sponsored by Puyallup Voters for Integrity, PO Box 42, Puyallup WA 98371. No candidate or party contributes to, authorizes or controls this Political Action Committee which is registered at the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. 2025 campaign season contributors over the $100 threshold so far include Chris Chisholm, PV4I Treasurer. When facts are presented, we want them to be accurate. If you find any errors, please email us with original-source evidence for correction.
Puyallup Voters for Integrity 