EVERETT — A small rise in Snohomish County’s taxes next year could cost homeowners a few extra dollars, but it won’t be as steep as the rise in home prices.
The budget County Executive Dave Somers has recommended for 2017 calls for a 1 percent bump in the property tax the county levies for general services
For the owner of a home valued at the countywide average of roughly $300,000, the tax hike would add less than $3 in extra property tax.
The county also levies a property tax known as conservation futures to support land purchases that protect farms, timberland and open space. In unincorporated areas, the county collects roads taxes as well. Those both would rise by 1 percent in the proposed budget.
While the county government collects property-tax bills, it only gets to keep a relatively small piece to fund its own government services.
General county government services receive just over 8 percent of the tax bill. About 60 percent goes to local school districts and the state for education. Fire protection commands nearly as much in property tax as the county general levy and conservation futures.
The average tax bill last year was about $3,385.
The County Council began reviewing Somers’ recommended budget a week ago and is likely to pass its own version in November.
The process has been complicated by the narrow rejection in August of a ballot measure known as Proposition 1. Had it passed, the sales-tax hike would have provided the county about $15 million in new annual funding for public safety and human services.
A 1 percent increase in property tax would add about $860,000 to next year’s operating budget, which is about $238 million in Somers’ plan. Because costs are rising faster than revenues, that still leaves the county looking for about $6 million in cuts. The sheriff’s office has been asked to trim about $2.4 million.
About three-quarters of the county’s operating budget supports public safety and the criminal justice system
There are no layoffs expected, but county leaders say they’re mulling tough choices to cut programs.
Anyone who would like to share thoughts on the county’s budget priorities can attend a forum planned for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 10. The location is to be determined.
Two budget hearings are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26. They’re taking place in council chambers on the eighth floor of the county’s Robert Drewel Building on 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.
This story has been modified to correction the amount that a 1 percent increase in county property tax would cost a homeowner.
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