What would Snohomish County sales tax hike do for public safety?
EVERETT — Snohomish County leaders say public safety is on the ballot this November. But it comes with a cost for consumers.
From 2021 to 2023, the sheriff’s office saw an average of 1,022 vehicle thefts, 933 burglaries and 380 assaults per year. Last year, more than 250 residents died of a fentanyl overdose.
The county has allocated millions to programs that help people out of poverty and addiction and boost the criminal justice system. This year, overdoses and crime have declined. But County Executive Dave Somers and other local officials say the county’s $1.6 billion annual budget still can’t keep up with the need.
This year, Somers worked with a team of local experts to brainstorm solutions. They proposed a public safety sales tax of an additional two-tenths of 1%, or about 2 cents for every $10 spent on retail in the county. The county can ask for up to three-tenths of 1% under state law.
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