November 2025 Ballot Measures: Counties and Special Purpose Districts

Previously, I broke down the city and town ballot measures that appeared in the November 2025 general election. Today I’m turning my attention to counties and “special purpose districts”—fire protection districts, public hospital districts, park districts, library districts, public utility districts (PUDs), and more.

Wherever possible I’ve linked to local news coverage for more information, but as always there are too many ballot measures for me to mention them all. For the complete results, see our Local Ballot Measure Database.

Counties

In Asotin County, voters easily approved a 0.1% emergency communications sales tax to expand the emergency radio network. According to emergency officials, about one-third of the county currently lacks reliable radio coverage.

Clallam County voters rejected a proposed countywide levy lid lift for criminal justice, public safety, public health, land use, and parks. While cities, towns, and many special purpose districts have come to rely on levy lid lifts to generate needed revenue, counties have a harder time and usually struggle to pass countywide lid lifts.

Also in Clallam County, voters approved a charter amendment removing the requirement that the prosecuting attorney serve as county coroner, aligning the county’s charter with recent legal interpretations and changes to state law.

In unincorporated Jefferson County, voters approved a 0.2% transportation benefit district (TBD) sales tax for transportation improvements. According to our records, Jefferson County—which earlier this year introduced both a 0.1% councilmanic TBD sales tax and a councilmanic $20 TBD vehicle license fee—is the first county to successfully fund its TBD program.

In an advisory vote, voters supported continuing Yakima County’s existing ban on cannabis production, processing, and retail businesses within unincorporated areas.

And in Whatcom County, voters weighed in on a dozen proposed charter amendments, approving eight and rejecting four. Amendments that passed included:

• Establishing a process for performance audits,
• Clarifying the independence of the separately elected county officials,
• Making changes to the budget process, and
• Requiring the county executive to publish analyses of how proposed county legislation could impact land supply and construction costs.

Rejected amendments included:

• Changes to signature thresholds for initiatives and charter amendments,
• The proposed creation of an ombuds office, and
• A proposal authorizing county councilmembers to hire up to one dedicated legislative aide each.

Fire Districts

In San Juan County Fire District No. 2 (Orcas Island Fire & Rescue), voters approved an $18.5 million bond measure to refurbish and purchase fire engines and ambulances and make improvements to fire stations.

Voters in Camas and Washougal supported the creation of a new Camas-Washougal Regional Fire Authority after an earlier attempt fell short in the April special election.

Three districts—Adams County No. 4, Pierce County No. 14 (Riverside Fire & Rescue), and Whitman County No. 9—were successful in passing excess operations and maintenance (O&M) levies.

Fire districts also placed 15 different levy lid lifts on the ballot—and as usual, most of them (11) were successful.

In Skagit County, voters approved the dissolution of Fire District Nos. 10 and 19, whose services have been provided by the Skagit County Regional Fire Authority since its formation last year.

Public Hospitals

Public hospitals had a tougher election, with only half of the proposed measures passing.

Voters in Garfield County Public Hospital District No. 1 supported a $7 million bond measure to construct and equip a medical imaging suite and make other capital improvements.

Voters also approved levy lid lifts for King County Public Hospital District No. 1 (Valley Medical Center), as well as San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1.

In Okanogan and Douglas counties, a proposed $45 million bond measure to make improvements to Three Rivers Hospital fell short of the required 60% supermajority.

In Grant County Public Hospital District No. 3 (Ephrata), voters rejected a proposed $30 million bond measure to construct new healthcare facilities. In nearby Grant County Public Hospital District No. 5, voters soundly rejected a proposed levy lid lift .

And in Oakville, voters rejected a proposal to annex new territory to Grays Harbor County Public Hospital District No. 1.

Park Districts

On Lopez Island, voters approved the creation of a new park and recreation district with almost 60% of the vote. However, voters rejected a second ballot measure that would have funded the new district with property taxes, which fell just shy of 50% approval. Under state law, it only takes a simple majority of voter support to create a park and recreation district but a 60% supermajority to fund it. This is not the first time I’ve seen a new park district formed at the same time that its funding is voted down.

Voters supported a park levy for South Whidbey Park and Recreation District to pay for operating costs of a new swimming pool, as well as six-year levies in Coyle-Thorndyke Park and Recreation District (Jefferson County) and Northshore Park and Recreation Service Area (King and Snohomish counties).

Voters said no to a six-year park and recreation levy for the Waitsburg Park and Recreation District in Walla Walla County, which would have helped to fund a new swimming pool after the 100-year-old pool closed several years ago. Voters also rejected a six-year levy for Quillayute Park and Recreation District in Clallam County, as well as a proposed levy lid lift for Eastmont Metro Parks and Recreation in Douglas County.

In the Anacortes area, voters rejected a second attempt to replace the existing park and recreation district—which must be funded by six-year levies requiring supermajority support, like those above—with a metropolitan park district, which has permanent taxing capabilities and only requires a simple majority of support.

In Klickitat County, voters overwhelmingly opposed the annexation of the Trout Lake School District to the existing White Salmon Valley Pool Metro Park District.

In St. John Park District No. 3 (Whitman County), voters approved a one-year excess operations and maintenance (O&M) levy, but a second excess levy for the installation of a splash pad fell just shy of the required 60% supermajority.

Libraries

Voters in the Upper Skagit Rural Library District supported a levy lid lift for library programs, services, and technology. The library district was established in 2001, and this is the first time it has asked for a levy lid lift.

On Orcas Island, voters also supported a levy lid lift for the library district, allowing it to maintain existing levels of service and address maintenance needs.

In the Asotin County Rural Library District, voters rejected a proposed levy lid lift for library operations. As a result, the library will have to close one branch entirely, close its main Clarkston branch for one extra day each week, and make staffing cuts.

Ports

Voters within the Port of Camas-Washougal rejected a proposal to increase port commissioner terms from four years to six under RCW 53.12.176.

In the Port of Bellingham, voters approved changing the port commission from three at-large positions to five district-based positions.

PUDs

In Wahkiakum County PUD, voters approved a measure authorizing the PUD to acquire, operate, and maintain sewer systems under RCW 54.16.230. This will allow the PUD to take ownership of the sewer system in the Town of Cathlamet, which could no longer afford to operate the sewer system.

For Complete Results

Want more results? Visit our Local Ballot Measure Database, where you can filter by the most recent election (or other timeframes), as well as by funding type, government type, and more.