Nehring: I will be voting “no” on this sales tax increase

Published 1:30 am Saturday, August 8, 2026

Next week, the Snohomish County Council will vote on a proposal to increase the countywide sales tax rate.

Ordinance 26-030 would enact a “Public Safety Enhancement Sales Tax” of 0.1% and would bypass a public vote, instead being decided upon by my colleagues and I on the County Council. Below, I outline four reasons why I will be voting “no” on this sales tax increase.

#1 – The existing tax burden already presents affordability challenges. Some areas of Snohomish County pay a current sales tax rate of up to 10.7% – the highest in Washington State. At the same time, county residents have seen dramatic increases on their property tax bills. In just the past five years, Snohomish County residents have shouldered an additional $455 million in property tax increases alone. At the state level, the Legislature in 2025 adopted the largest tax increase in state history. As taxes rise, it becomes increasingly challenging for individuals and families to live and thrive in Snohomish County.

#2 – This tax will go to the county’s general fund, not to new public safety services. When residents hear about a “public safety” sales tax increase, the natural assumption is that the revenue will be used to fund new services related to public safety, such as additional Sheriff deputies or prosecutors. In this case, the reality is there is currently no plan to use these funds for new public safety services. Instead, the tax revenue will be used to plug the county’s general fund budget deficit. To be clear, the general fund includes significant spending on the criminal justice system in addition to other county services, so proponents will argue that it is being spent (at least in part) on public safety. Regardless, the public deserves transparency: this measure is being proposed as a method of plugging the general fund budget hole and is not going to result in new public safety services.

#3 – Cities won’t receive funding, yet city residents will still pay the new tax. The current proposal, unlike previous versions of public safety sales taxes, anticipates county government keeping hold of 100% of the tax revenue without distributing any portion to our city partners. This means residents living in cities will pay the new tax, but their local police departments will not receive any additional funds. I have proposed an amendment which would set aside a portion of the funding for cities to apply to their law enforcement and jail expenses.

#4 – Voters rejected a public safety sales tax increase just 18 months ago. In the 2024 General Election, Snohomish County voters rejected a public safety sales tax ballot measure by a double-digit margin. In my view, it is inappropriate for the County Council to override the will of the voters less than 24 months later by implementing a similar public safety sales tax increase without a public vote.

This sales tax is one of several tax increase proposals which are being proposed by county government this year in an attempt to address budget deficits. Other proposals include a car-tab increase for the roads fund, a property tax increase for the general fund, and potential levy lid lift measures for both funds at some point in the near future.

Addressing a budget deficit should not rely solely on raising taxes. Instead, we should first look to reducing spending. Individuals, families, and businesses operate their own budgets this way each day. When expenses exceed income, spending must be reduced.

I look forward to working with my colleagues and engaging in a robust discussion about how to best address Snohomish County’s budget challenges. As in previous years, I plan to introduce a proposal outlining spending reductions which I hope will be considered alongside these various tax increase proposals.

Nate Nehring is an elected member of the Snohomish County Council. Nate and his wife, Savannah, are both lifelong residents of Snohomish County, where they are now raising their four young children. Councilmember Nehring can be reached by email at Nate.Nehring@snoco.org.