Snohomish County Council member Nate Nehring says he will vote against the proposed 0.1% sales tax increase that would push Everett's combined rate to 10%, setting up a contested final vote on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Nehring published his opposition in a Herald forum column on Aug. 8, outlining four reasons he opposes Ordinance 26-030, the "Public Safety Enhancement Sales Tax." He is the first council member to publicly declare a position ahead of the vote.

The five-member Snohomish County Council will hold a public hearing and final vote at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Henry M. Jackson Board Room on the 8th floor of 3000 Rockefeller Ave. in Everett.

Nehring's case against the tax

Nehring argued the tax would plug the county's $56 million general fund deficit rather than pay for new deputies, prosecutors or jail capacity. "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," he wrote.

He also cited the existing tax burden. Some parts of Snohomish County already pay up to 10.7% in sales tax, the highest rate in Washington, and county residents have absorbed $455 million in property tax increases over the past five years, according to his column.

Nehring's third objection: that cities would not receive a direct share of the revenue even though their residents pay the tax. He proposed an amendment to set aside a portion of the proceeds for city law enforcement and jail expenses.

However, as we reported Aug. 5, the council already approved a July 22 amendment creating a 15% revenue-sharing grant program for cities and towns. Nehring's proposed amendment appears to seek a larger or more direct allocation than that grant structure provides.

His fourth point: Snohomish County voters rejected a similar 0.2% public safety sales tax by a double-digit margin in November 2024. "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," Nehring wrote.

Sheriff Susanna Johnson offered a counterpoint at the council's July 22 session, testifying that law and justice departments have exhausted budget reductions and that the ordinance aims to sustain existing services. The tax is not about expansion, she told the council.

The numbers

Ordinance 26-030 would add one cent per $10 in purchases countywide. The tax is projected to generate roughly $20 million per year for sheriff's deputies, the county jail, prosecutors, public defense and the courts. A 2025 state law allows counties to impose the tax by council vote without a ballot measure.

County Executive Dave Somers has directed departments to prepare budgets with 3% reductions totaling about $22 million for the 2027-28 biennium. Even with the new tax revenue, Somers has said additional cuts will be necessary. His proposed budget is due to the council by Sept. 4.

How to weigh in

Residents can testify at Wednesday's hearing in person, by Zoom (Meeting ID: 948-4685-0772), or by phone at 1-253-215-8782 or 1-206-337-9723. Written testimony can be emailed to [email protected].

The council's remaining members are Chair Megan Dunn, Vice-Chair Sam Low, and Councilmembers Jared Mead and Strom Peterson. None has publicly stated how they will vote.