EVERETT — The Snohomish County Council passed two tax increases—one for criminal justice and public safety, another for county roads connected to a $20 car tab hike—but sent a third tax hike back to committee for continued study.
The first tax hike that was approved on a 3-2 vote, is a $20 car tab hike for vehicles registered to addresses in unincorporated Snohomish County. Councilmembers Megan Dunn, Strom Peterson, and Jared Mead all voted in favor of the tax that will generate a projected $6 million a year for county roads and bridges.
Dunn, the Council chair, stated before the vote, “We have half of our population is unincorporated. The other half is in cities. All of those residents in cities are currently paying a car tab in some form, so this is more about fairness so that there’s an equal amount of revenue also from our unincorporated areas.”
The second tax increase, a 0.1% sales tax hike dedicated for criminal justice and public safety, also passed on a 3-2 vote with Councilmembers Low and Mead switching places with their support. Low’s ‘yes’ vote carried the measure, saying, “For 10 years, I voted not to raise taxes and so I have a consistent record of not voting to raise general fund taxes and living within our means and I believe that we’ve done that. But I cannot deny the fact that if we do not pass this today that we will lose (a) significant amount of deputies. Will lose (a) significant amount of prosecutors and others that will prosecute crime. It’s not an easy decision to make, but I think it is the right decision to make today.”
In dissent, Mead said the 0.1% sales tax proposal should be considered in September or early October after Executive Dave Sommers submits his 2027 budget which will address a projected $27 million county shortfall. “I concede that our budget is upside down,” Mead concluded in his comments just before the vote, “and we need to address that. This is not the way to do it. I think it is an inappropriate and anti-transparent way to fix our budget, so that’s why I’m a ‘no’.”
The 0.1% sales tax hike across Snohomish County for this dedicated criminal justice and public safety funding is expected to generate nearly $24 million per year. Both tax increases go into effect on January 1, 2027.
A third proposed tax hike, a 0.1% sales tax for county roads and transportation that was intended to accompany the $20 car tab hike for unincorporated Snohomish County was essentially tabled when the Council voted unanimously to refer it back to committee for continued evaluation at a future meeting.