Local Government
Local Government
Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
Local Government
View MoreFederal judge blocks USPS mail-ballot rule for Everett voters
A federal judge granted a 14-day temporary restraining order on Aug. 27 blocking the USPS from enforcing new mail-ballot rules ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, giving Washington election officials short-term relief while a Sept. 3 hearing will determine whether the block holds.
Local Government
View More9th Circuit blocks Trump grant conditions for Snohomish County
A 9th Circuit panel ruled 2-1 on Aug. 25 that the Trump administration cannot impose new conditions on federal housing and transportation grants, protecting funds for Snohomish County and more than 70 other local governments that sued.
Local Government
View MoreBoeing engineers face job-search rule to collect strike pay
A federal ruling forces Washington state to require striking workers to actively job-search to collect unemployment benefits starting Monday, Aug. 24, directly affecting roughly 17,000 Boeing SPEEA engineers and technicians in Everett and elsewhere who authorized a strike after rejecting the company's contract offer.
Local Government
View MoreEverett's doubled water utility tax takes effect, ripples across county
Everett's 12% utility tax, which replaced a 6% fee unchanged since 1983, took effect Aug. 1 and is projected to generate $7.5 million annually for the city's general fund while raising bills for 670,000 water customers countywide.
Local Government
View MoreEverett council to vote on giving reality TV crew exclusive access to police
The Everett City Council votes Aug. 12 on letting reality TV show 'Police 24/7' film officers on duty under a production agreement that gives the production company perpetual ownership of all footage and complete editorial control, while critics warn the show exploits people in crisis.
Local Government
View MoreNehring declares 'no' vote on county sales tax hike before Aug. 12
Snohomish County Council member Nate Nehring is the first to publicly oppose Ordinance 26-030, the 0.1% public safety sales tax that would push Everett's rate to 10%, ahead of Wednesday's final vote and public hearing.
Local Government
View MoreFunko swings to profit nine months after survival warning
Funko, headquartered in downtown Everett, reported a record 56.6% gross margin and swung to a $15.4 million profit in Q2 2026, nine months after warning it might not survive another year.
Local Government
View MoreEverett sales tax could hit 10% as council meets
The Snohomish County Council holds a public hearing Aug. 12 on a 0.1% sales tax that would push Everett's combined rate to 10%, while the Everett City Council meets the same evening for final votes on pier removal, a Harborview Park gazebo and the Everett 2044 comprehensive plan resolution.
Local Government
View MoreSnohomish County public safety sales tax advances to Aug. 12
The Snohomish County Council approved three amendments to a proposed 0.1% public safety sales tax on July 22, setting up a final vote Aug. 12 that would push Everett's combined sales tax rate to 10%.
Local Government
View MoreEverett voters approve EMS levy by wide margin in primaries
Everett voters approved the city's EMS levy lid lift with 74.88% support in early Aug. 4 primary returns, restoring the property tax rate to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value for 2027-2028 and adding about $80 per year to the average homeowner's tax bill.
Local Government
View MoreEverett residents can weigh in on $1.5 million in federal housing grants Aug. 18
Everett's Community Development Advisory Committee will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 18 to recommend how roughly $1.5 million in federal CDBG, HOME, and Affordable Housing Trust Fund dollars should be allocated for 2027, with residents able to attend in person or virtually.
Local Government
View MoreSouth Everett golf course may lose six holes to light rail, gain 500 homes under new plan
A city-commissioned Urban Land Institute study recommends converting much of South Everett's 160-acre Walter E. Hall Golf Course into a community park with up to 500 affordable housing units, playgrounds, and soccer fields as Sound Transit's Everett Link expansion may claim six holes for wetland mitigation.
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