A trip to the store could soon cost Everett shoppers a little more as Snohomish County considers a new tax that would raise the local sales tax rate to 10% and send the money toward criminal justice services.

Snohomish County leaders are moving forward with a proposal to add a 0.1% criminal justice sales tax — a change that would cost shoppers about 1 cent for every $10 spent on taxable purchases.

The County Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday, July 8, on setting a public hearing for Ordinance 26-030, with a proposed hearing date of Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 10:30 a.m. in Everett.

If approved, the tax would increase Everett’s combined sales tax rate from 9.9% to 10%.

What residents should know

• The tax would add $1 per $1,000 spent on taxable goods.
• Revenue would be dedicated to criminal justice purposes under state law.
• Snohomish County would keep all revenue; the county has not released an estimate of how much money the tax could generate.
• The tax would not require voter approval under a temporary authority granted to county councils through state law.

Unlike most new taxes in Washington, which typically require a public vote, counties can currently impose this specific criminal justice sales tax through council action. That authority expires June 30, 2028, after which voter approval would be required for new taxes of this type.

The council first discussed the proposal July 1 before continuing the item to Wednesday’s meeting. If the hearing date is approved, residents will have a chance to comment before council members consider final adoption.

The public hearing is proposed for Aug. 12 at 10:30 a.m. in the Jackson Board Room, 8th Floor, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. Residents can also participate remotely through Zoom or by phone.

The council could vote on the ordinance after the hearing closes. No additional public hearing would be required before adoption.