Everett, Wash.
Published: Monday, November 19, 2007

County property tax cut may save you $2.39

The move would save the typical homeowner $2.39, but the County Council may increase other taxes to pay for road improvements.

By Jeff Switzer
Herald Writer

 A property tax rollback so small that Snohomish County Council chairman Dave Gossett says it can't buy half a can of Spam appears headed for approval as part of the county's 2008 budget.

"I intend to support it," Gossett said. "I think having laid it out there, people will expect it. It has little impact on the budget, and has little impact on the individual taxpayer."

The rollback was proposed in September by Democratic County Executive Aaron Reardon, who said the county is flush with funds and doesn't need the $675,000 it might have otherwise collected.

The move would put $2.39 back in the wallet of the owner of a typical $300,000 home in Snohomish County.

"You know, I'm delighted," Republican County Councilman John Koster said of the tax cut. "I support it."

He's pitched the idea to fellow council members for years without success.

Final votes on the county's proposed 2008 budget could come as soon as today.

The County Council is expected to amend the budget proposed by Reardon, which called for $673 million in spending, including $212 million in general-fund spending on things like police, courts and parks.

While one property tax appears to be headed for a cut, County Council members are leaning toward increasing property taxes collected for road taxes for the 27th year.

If adopted, the county would collect about $49 million in road taxes in 2008.

Koster is leaning toward voting for the increase in road taxes, echoing his vote last year.

"We just don't have the revenue to do the things we need to on roads," Koster said.

Reardon sent a Friday afternoon memo and press release to the council urging members to reject three proposed property tax increases, including the one for roads.

Gossett, also a Democrat, countered that there is no support on the council for increasing two of the three taxes Reardon is concerned about. The road tax increase is needed to improve infrastructure, and the executive hasn't proposed an alternate plan, Gossett said.

Aside from tax rates and the county's bottom line, council members are expected to debate new programs and positions included in Reardon's proposed budget.

Reardon called for spending on roving graffiti patrols; design work for a new disaster headquarters; and hiring sheriff's office cadets, four district court clerks, two new prosecuting attorneys and another drug-court coordinator.

A proposed new Office of Security also is proposed, and a $130 million boost to roadwork, both of which have yet to be debated by council members.



Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.

Budget hearing

The County Council plans a budget hearing at 1 p.m. today on the eighth floor of the county administration building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.
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