Clark County Proposition No. 13 — Levy Lid Lift for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Services

What it does

Levy Lid Lift for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Services The Clark County Council adopted Resolution 2026-07-09, concerning public safety and criminal justice services. This proposition would provide funds for public safety and criminal justice services, including additional correction deputies, sheriff deputies, prosecuting attorney staff, and other services. It authorizes a maximum regular property tax levy for collection in 2027 of $1.15 per $1,000 of assessed value, an increase of approximately $0.44 from 2026. The 2027 levy amount would be used to compute the limitations for subsequent levies under chapter 84.55 RCW. Qualifying persons are exempt under RCW 84.36.381. Should this proposition be approved?

A YES vote means

Clark County's property tax could rise to up to $1.15 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2027, about $0.44 more than 2026, for more corrections and sheriff deputies, prosecutor staff and other public safety services, with qualifying persons exempt.

A NO vote means

Clark County's property tax would not be raised under this levy lid lift.

What it would cost

1.15 mills: $115 a year for every $100,000 of taxable value (a mill is $1 per $1,000). Taxable value is after exemptions such as homestead; your tax bill or property appraiser shows yours.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Example

The increase of about $0.44 per $1,000 works out to roughly $44 a year for each $100,000 of assessed value. The County estimates about $242 a year ($20.17 a month) for a home at the $550,000 median price. (source)

Who would notice

Property owners countywide, including inside cities, except qualifying seniors and disabled persons; and the Sheriff's Office, jail and other county law and justice offices that would add staff.

How it got here

The Clark County Council adopted Resolution 2026-07-09 placing it on the ballot alongside Proposition 12, a $366 million bond for the jail remodel and expansion. The County says the bond pays for buildings and the lid lift pays for staffing and operations.

In the news

• Propositions 12, 13 would fund jail expansion, criminal justice services · The Columbian, 2026-10-03

Written by SpectrumVote from 4 linked sources (1, 2, 3, 4). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Background

According to the County, the levy lid lift would pay for staff to operate the expanded jail and additional Sheriff's Office, prosecuting attorney, court, clerk and public defense staff, including four prosecuting attorney staff now funded by one-time grants; it would raise the county levy to $1.15 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2027, about $0.44 more than 2026.

The County estimates the levy at $51.4 million and about $242 a year ($20.17 a month) for a median $550,000 home; qualifying seniors in the exemption program would not be affected, and it needs a simple majority.

The County says 75% of its roughly $222 million 2026 general fund already goes to law and justice services; if the levy passes but the bond does not, it says the revenue could go to Sheriff's Office staffing and other law and justice services.

OPB reported the County Council approved placing both propositions on the ballot unanimously.

Put on the ballot by Clark County Council, unanimous as reported by OPB, July 21, 2026 (Resolution 2026-07-09).

From official source 1, official source 2.

In the news

• Clark County Council asks voters to approve $366M bond for jail remodel · OPB, 2026-07-22

Who's for and against

A sourced selection, not a complete list. Who supports a measure is listed so you can see who is behind each side; SpectrumVote takes no position.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Clark County ballots

• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 19 — Concerning a Limitation on Consecutive Terms for County Council Members
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 20 — Concerning a Revised Budget Transparency Process
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 21 — Concerning Revised Council Powers Regarding Boards and Commissions
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 22 — Concerning a Clarification of Nonpartisan Office Elections
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 23 — Concerning a Required Annual Report Publication by the County Manager
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 24 — Concerning a Requirement for a Housing Impact Analysis
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 25 — Concerning the Requirement of Supermajority Approval by Council for County Taxes
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 26 — Concerning the Initiative, Mini-Initiative, and Referenda Process
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 27 — Concerning Legislative Branch Performance Audits
• Clark County Proposition No. 12 — Bonds for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Capital Infrastructure

All Clark County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Clark County Proposition No. 13 mean?

Clark County's property tax could rise to up to $1.15 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2027, about $0.44 more than 2026, for more corrections and sheriff deputies, prosecutor staff and other public safety services, with qualifying persons exempt.

What does a NO vote on Clark County Proposition No. 13 mean?

Clark County's property tax would not be raised under this levy lid lift.

What vote does it need?

A simple majority (50% plus one). Proposition 12, the bond, needs 60% and minimum turnout.

What if Prop 13 passes but the jail bond (Prop 12) fails?

The County says it can apply the new revenue to Sheriff's Office staffing and other law and justice services.

What if the bond passes but Prop 13 fails?

The County says it will not issue any jail bonds until operational funding is secured.

How many votes does Clark County Proposition No. 13 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Clark County Proposition No. 13?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.