Government

Gig Harbor Now provides citizens the information they need to oversee and participate in the city of Gig Harbor, Pierce County and smaller governing bodies.

26th District House seat draws a crowded field of candidates

May 10, 2024 | By:

Several candidates filed to run for the 26th Legislative District House of Representatives position currently held by Michelle Caldier on Friday, May 10, the final day of filing week. Caldier, running for a sixth term in Olympia, is challenged by one fellow Republican, two Democrats and an independent. All except Caldier and independent Joshua Smith

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Opioid settlement funds help city reach out to those in need

May 09, 2024 | By:

Shea Smiley is the city’s Housing, Health and Human Services manager. Her position, created last year, helps aid those in need.

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Investigation faults Caldier for naming names

May 06, 2024 | By:

An inquiry alleges that state Rep. Michelle Caldier’s press release responding to an earlier investigation retaliates against staff complainants.

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Candidate filing for 2024 election begins next week

May 02, 2024 | By:

Political candidates can formally file to run for office in the 2024 election starting next week. But plenty of would-be officeholders have already declared their campaigns and begun raising money.  David Olson, a Peninsula School Board member, is running for state Superintendent of Public Instruction. Three candidates seek a seat in the Legislature being vacated

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City considers options, next steps in wake of failed property tax vote

May 01, 2024 | By:

As soon as it was apparent that voters had rejected a proposed property tax increase, the city’s Executive Committee – composed of the mayor, city administrator, police chief, finance director, city clerk and public works director – met to discuss the next steps for solving a potential budget crisis. As City Administrator Katrina Knutson reported

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Gig Harbor voters overwhelmingly rejecting property tax proposal

Apr 23, 2024 | By:

Gig Harbor voters soundly rejected a proposal to increase property taxes inside city limits. Preliminary vote totals released by the Pierce County Elections Office on Tuesday, April 23, show 69% (2,379 votes) against the proposed increase and 31% (1,069) in favor of it. The elections office will post updated vote totals at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

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PenMet creating Peninsula Gardens master plan

Apr 23, 2024 | By:

PenMet Parks enlisted help in determining the future of its Peninsula Gardens property. PenMet commissioners at their April 16 meeting hired AHBL, Inc. of Tacoma to help staff and the public produce a master plan for the former nursery. The contract pays up to $139,000 for work through the end of the year, according to

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City voters decide Tuesday on property tax proposition

Apr 22, 2024 | By:

Voters inside Gig Harbor will decide Tuesday, April 23, whether to increase their property taxes in order to fill a gap in the city government’s general fund. The Pierce County Auditors Office’s elections division will post preliminary results at about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. The office will release updated totals through May 3, with certification May

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Varying boundaries influence how we live, what taxes we pay

Apr 15, 2024 | By:

Counties, cities, park districts, fire departments, transit agencies and legislative bodies all serve certain areas that rarely are the same.

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Short-term rentals grew slowly in first year under new regulations, Gig Harbor officials say

Apr 15, 2024 | By:

Could it be that after an 18-month moratorium on new short-term rentals (STRs) in Gig Harbor, a sometimes acrimonious public debate on the topic, and a full year of these lodgings operating under new rules that seemed to satisfy neither critics nor proponents, the city’s STR businesses are growing at a slow to moderate pace

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