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Pierce County commissioners vote to add FLOST referendum to Nov. 4 ballot
Summary
The Pierce County Board of Commissioners voted July 8 to place a Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) referendum on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot after a briefing by County Manager Raphel Maddox; the board was told no other tax measures would appear on that ballot.
Pierce County commissioners voted July 8 to place a countywide Floating Local Option Sales Tax, or FLOST, on the Nov. 4, 2025 general-election ballot.
County Manager Raphel Maddox described FLOST as a county-wide local option sales tax that can be levied up to 1 percent and is tied to the floating homestead exemption; he said the measure would require a local referendum and explained how the exemption interacts with existing local sales-tax limits. Chairman Neal Bennett asked whether any other tax measures would appear on the November ballot; Maddox replied, "there will be no other tax on the November ballot." Commissioner Troy Mattox moved to add the FLOST referendum to the ballot; Commissioner David Lowman seconded and the motion carried.
Why it matters: A FLOST referendum gives voters the choice to adopt a sales tax increase of up to 1 percent that would apply countywide if adopted. County officials framed the step as placing the question before voters rather than adopting a tax directly; any final adoption would require voter approval at the referendum.
What passed: The board approved a motion to place FLOST on the Nov. 4 ballot. The transcript records the motion, the second and that "the motion carried." The board did not record a detailed vote tally in the meeting minutes.
What’s next: With the referendum on the ballot, county staff will complete any required ballot language and procedural filings ahead of the November election.
