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FIPS: 53053•Rank #74 National•Rank #3 in WA
Pierce County, WA
Forward-Looking Municipal Debt, Assessment Lag & Carrying Cost Audit
Elevated Tax Drift Risk
96% Conf.
Tax Drift Index
56/ 100
Elevated Drift Risk
Pierce County Executive Risk Briefing
MSRB EMMA Disclosures & US Census BureauAugust 2026
Pierce County carries a Elevated Tax Drift Score (56/100) based on $6,800 in overlapping municipal debt per capita and a +21% CAD assessment lag spread. Projected 3-year millage escalation of +0.13% (+13 bps) indicates an estimated +$1,482/yr escrow adjustment on median-priced properties.
Median Home: $530,000Median Income: $86,000Effective Tax: 1.0%
Municipal Debt Per Capita
$6,800
7.9% of Median Income
CAD Valuation Lag
+21.0%
Assessed Value trailing Market HPI
3-Yr Millage Escalation
+13 bps
Effective Rate: 1.0% → 1.1%
Projected Annual Escrow Shock
+$1,482/yr
Estimated on median assessed home
Interactive Property Tax & Escrow Shock Simulator
Model forward-looking ad valorem tax obligations and monthly escrow adjustments for a specific parcel in Pierce County, WA.
$530,000
$0
Current Annual Tax
$5,194
@ 0.98% eff. rate
Year 3 Projected Tax
$6,676
@ 1.11% eff. rate
Net Escrow Increase
+$1,482/yr
+$124/mo mortgage escrow
Projected Shock Attribution Breakdown+13 bps rate shift
1. Muni Bond Debt Service
+6 bps
I&S bond amortization
2. Operating Deficit Drift
+7 bps
M&O budget expansion
3. CAD Valuation Catch-up
+$709/yr
+$72,345 assessed base
Overlapping Taxing Jurisdictions & Debt Obligations
Breakdown of autonomous debt issuers assessing ad valorem property taxes on parcels within Pierce County.
| Entity Name | Entity Type | Outstanding Bond Debt | Debt / Student or Cap | Adopted Millage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Public Schools | ISD | $950.0M | $33,000 | 0.260% |
5-Year Historical Drift Score & Effective Rate Trajectory
2022
49
0.9% eff.
2023
52
0.9% eff.
2024
53
1.0% eff.
2025
55
1.0% eff.
2026
56
1.0% eff.
Statutory Constraint & Legislative Policy
Tacoma and South Sound school districts rely heavily on voter-approved Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) levies.
Data Provenance & Audit Citations