Snohomish County Council considers new public safety sales tax

Published 12:48 pm Thursday, July 2, 2026

EVERETT — The Snohomish County Council is considering a public safety sales tax expected to generate nearly $24 million in annual revenue.

On Wednesday, the council was scheduled to set a date for the 0.1% sales tax’s public hearing, but instead postponed its discussion to July 8 after members Nate Nehring and Jared Mead raised concerns. Initially, the council planned to schedule the public hearing on Aug. 12.

The new tax is allowed under state law RCW 43.101.540 enacted earlier this year. It would apply to all jurisdictions in Snohomish County, including cities and unincorporated areas. Collected funds would be used for criminal justice purposes.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Nehring suggested putting the sales tax out to a vote. While that is an option, it would be a “non-binding, advisory vote,” council staff member Nicole Gorle said.

Mead was uncomfortable considering the tax outside of larger budget discussions, he said.

“Aug. 12 is a couple months before, at least one month before we’re going to get anything from the Executive’s Office for the budget,” he said. “It might help for me to have seen the budget come back from the Executive’s Office, where it’s transmitted to us, so we can see what they’ve built out, how they plan to spend it.”

The tax has the potential for “huge revenue,” Mead said.

“My consideration in a giant revenue lever like this is how it operates within the context of the entire budget,” he said.

The tax is also stackable, the staff report says. Cities can implement their own 0.1% public safety sales tax. If the county’s ordinance passes, the tax rate would increase by an additional 0.1% in those areas.

Lynnwood and Edmonds have already passed their own public safety sales taxes. Stanwood is sending a tax measure to the August ballot.

To keep the county’s planned collection date Jan. 1, 2027, Executive Dave Somers would need to submit an approved ordinance to the state Department of Revenue by Oct. 16, Gorle said.

Taylor Scott Richmond: 425-339-3046; taylor.richmond@heraldnet.com; X: @BTayOkay