EVERETT – Facing a $56 million two-year budget deficit, Snohomish County Executive, Dave Somers, submitted his spending plan to balance the shortage, which includes a proposed property tax increase that drew skepticism from two County Council members.
Somers, in his proposed 2027-28 biennial budget, said his deficit reduction plan, “Makes strategic use of revenue options, including the allowable one-percent property tax levy increase under state law, use of the county’s remaining banked capacity from past years when the increase was not taken, and adjusting to new state requirements setting new minimums on existing levies for veterans, mental health, and developmental disabilities services. All total, using these revenue options would result in taxpayers paying approximately $41 more per year on property taxes for an average-valued home of $741,000.”
The $41 annual property tax increase on an average-valued home immediately jumped out to Snohomish County Councilman, Jared Mead, who tells the EverettPost.com, “We’ve only had the budget in our hands for a few hours, so I want to spend some time going through the details before drawing conclusions. My focus is going to be on whether the math holds up, particularly in the out years where we’re already projected to fall below our reserve targets. I’m also concerned that this proposal uses essentially every remaining revenue tool available to us while still leaving significant challenges just a few years down the road. And when we talk about the impact on families, we need to show the whole picture. The $41 figure being cited is only the property tax increase proposed today. It doesn’t include the sales tax and car tab increases approved just two weeks ago. Residents deserve to know what the total additional cost will actually be.”
Mead’s reference to the sales tax and car tab increases recently passed in August by the five member County Council on respective 3-2 votes involve a 0.1% sales tax across the entire county to generate an estimated $20 million a year for law enforcement, courts, prosecutors and public defenders. The County Council at the same time passed a more targeted $20 annual car tab increase for vehicles registered in unincorporated Snohomish County which is estimated to bring in $6 million a year for road and bridge infrastructure.
In his tenth budget address as Executive, Somers said, “We cannot make this budget about silos and pitting people against each other. We must focus on strategic decisions to serve the entire county.”
This is Snohomish County’s second biennial budget. According to Somers, the proposed budget including all funds is $3.37 billion total for the next two years, and the proposed General Fund budget is $786.6 million. The majority of County funds are obligated for specific purposes based on how the revenue is legislated or based on grant or contract terms. In the 2027-28 budget release, Somers says the general fund is the County’s most flexible funding source and serves as the backstop for everything else.
“Snohomish County, like many other public agencies, is facing multiple financial pressures including rapid inflation, an ongoing structural deficit, limited revenue tools available to counties under state law, and federal funding uncertainty. Previously, the County Council has opted not to take all available revenue from the county’s banked capacity on its property tax levy, widening the gap between the cost of providing services and the amount of revenue available to cover those costs,” Somers advised in his budget statement.
“The deficit in our budget did not emerge in a single budget cycle. We know we can’t resolve it in a single cycle, either,” Somers said. “We need strategies that balance smart spending reductions and responsible new revenue. We also need time, and this two-year budget is designed to ensure Snohomish County can continue serving public needs.”
County Councilman, Nate Nehring, tells the EverettPost.com, “Given the magnitude of the budget shortfall Snohomish County is facing, I believe we should begin by strategically reducing spending in a targeted manner which preserves core services. Unfortunately, that has not happened. Instead, the proposed budget largely relies upon property tax increases and a 3% across-the-board cut which avoids the difficult work of setting priorities. I will be advocating for taxpayers and plan to vote against the proposed property tax increases.”
Somers’ budget plan, “Reduces spending by about $22 million in the coming biennium. Those spending reductions are accomplished through a mix of cuts and realignments of county work. The recommended budget eliminates 11 filled positions and 79 vacant positions. Employees impacted by those layoffs have been notified, and the decision to cut vacant positions helped prevent additional layoffs,” the Executive remarked in his statement. The $22 million spending reduction represents a 3% across the board cut for Snohomish County.
County Council chair, Megan Dunn, responded to the 2027-28 budget proposal, “I’m grateful to the Executive and his team, as well as our independently elected leaders, for the work that went into developing this recommended budget. As Council begins our review, I look forward to leading a thoughtful and transparent process that recognizes both the services our communities rely on and the real affordability pressures facing families across Snohomish County. I encourage residents to stay informed and make their voices heard through our community forums and public hearings. Our final budget should reflect our community’s priorities, responsibly steward public dollars, and deliver for the people we serve.”
Now, the budget moves on to the County Council for deliberation and public hearings. The Council has set a Community Budget Forum for 6 p.m. on October 7. Typically, the Council votes on a budget by the end of November.