Initial election results have Bellevue’s propositions passing in the city with solid majorities.
Proposition 1, the “Fire Facilities” measure wants to make some significant changes to stations around the city, including building a new station in the Downtown Bellevue neighborhood, retrofitting stations around the city for seismic activity, warehouse space for reserve equipment and other upgrades to existing stations.
Bellevue voters have it leading with 58 percent of the vote, 20,155 to 14,557. It needs a simple majority to pass.
The fire facilities measure would increase that tax by 12.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Proposition 2, “Transportation Neighborhood Safety, Connectivity and Congestion” measure would focus on new sidewalks and trails around the city, new bicycle facilities, reducing neighborhood congestion and improving neighborhood safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Opponents have complained it doesn’t specifically name what it intends to do with the money.
Six types of projects would be available for Prop. 2, according to the city: reducing neighborhood congestion, improving neighborhood safety, building new sidewalks, trails, and paths, traffic management technology, system maintenance and new bike facilities.
Bellevue voters backed it with 54.6 percent of the vote, 18,972 votes to 15,783. Proposition 2 would increase property tax by 15 cents per $1,000.
With a median home value of $640,000, Bellevue homeowners would pay an additional $176 in property tax if the measures pass.
Mayor John Stokes wrote a letter to the editor a few weeks ago expressing his thoughts on the propositions.
“Proposition 1, the fire facilities measure, would ensure that fire stations are able to continue to provide critical emergency and medical services at all times, including in the case of disaster situations,” he wrote. “Proposition 2 would help the Transportation Department meet the backlog of projects designed to improve neighborhood safety, connectivity, and congestion. At current funding levels, it would take over 30 years to complete only the list of identified sidewalk projects alone.”
