This informational mailer is not a ballot, Benton County says. It fooled some people
Voters in Prosser have mistaken an informational flier included in their utility bills as a ballot for an upcoming city bond measure.
The two-sided flier includes facts and frequently asked questions on one side, and an example of the ballot wording on the other.
Underneath the ballot language includes a question if the bond should be approved, as well as “YES” and “NO” next to check boxes. It also says “Ballots Due November 8, 2022.”
Amanda Hatfield, Benton County’s elections manager, told the Tri-City Herald that they received multiple phone calls and people coming in to turn in that piece of paper as an official ballot this week.
“The Benton County Elections Division is encouraging voters not to mark and return the newsletter that was included in the utility bill packet. This is not an official ballot packet from the Elections Division,” read a news release from Benton County Elections.
Official ballots for the general Nov. 8 election is to be mailed out Oct. 19 to registered voters.
Voters can confirm their registration and register to vote through Oct. 31 online at vote.wa.gov. Residents can register to vote in person up until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Ballots must be filled out and postmarked on or before Nov. 8, or in a county-certified drop box by 8 p.m. Election Day. No postage is required.
Residents who live within Prosser city limits are being asked to pass a $16.8 million bond package that would build a new city hall and police station. Their old one was destroyed in a May 2021 fire.
A recent city government study found that the size of the previous combination police station and city hall was already insufficient for the city’s growing needs, and that a new shared facility could benefit both city and public safety business operations.
In August, the city bought land along Wine Country Road for a new city hall-police station.
“The bonds, together with funds from grants and other sources, would pay to acquire a new site and to design, construct and equip an new city hall and police station, including spaces for community meetings, public safety, public works, utilities and other city services,” the flier said.
Home owners would be taxed about $1.085 per $1,000 of assessed property value over the 31-year life of the bond. For a home assessed at $350,000, that means an additional annual tax bill of about $380.
The city of Prosser this year will tax its property owners a rate of $2.24 per $1,000 assessed value for city services, including police, according to the Benton County.
Year over year, that rate has been declining as assessed values shoot up. That rate does not include other local district taxes, such as fire and emergency services or school levies.
