South County Fire unanimously approves 2026 budget

Published 1:30 am Thursday, November 20, 2025

EVERETT — The South County Fire Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the proposed 2026 budget on Tuesday evening. The budget, funding emergency services operations, is just over $130 million, according to a South County Fire press release.

The 2026 budget adds approximately $7 per month in costs for the average homeowner. The budget will shift a slightly higher portion of funding onto the benefit charge — a fee based on a building’s size, use and hazards, rather than property taxes. The benefit charge for a 2,000-square-foot home would increase from $70.39 to $106.92, a difference of just under $37 for the year, the release said. The 2026 budget has a slightly decreased property tax levy rate of $1.15 per $1,000 of assessed property value, compared to $1.16 in 2025.

The budget also adds 30 firefighters and six administrative staff. An amendment to the budget passed with a 5-2 vote that prohibits 35 of the new positions from being filled until approved by the board in 2026 to maintain fiscal responsibility. One administrative position, an HVAC technician, was not included in the amendment and is considered budget neutral, said South County Fire spokesperson Christie Veley in an email.

“This is about more than balancing numbers,” said Fire Chief Bob Eastman in the release. “It’s about honoring your trust and making sure every dollar supports our commitment to safety, transparency and responsible use of the resources you give us.”

The 2026 budget will keep South County Fire among the lowest-cost emergency service providers in Snohomish County, the release said. South County Fire has kept property tax increases under the rate of inflation since the regional fire authority formed. Since 2018, the average yearly property tax increase for the agency has been below 1%.

Jenna Millikan: 425-339-3035; jenna.millikan@heraldnet.com; X: @JennaMillikan