Voters decide on four-vote threshold for new county taxes in November

Snohomish County residents will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to determine whether five changes to the local government charter become permanent law. The measures alter how the county manages its budget, conducts elections, and approves new taxes. For voters, the most immediate financial change involves a higher bar for council members to impose new levies without a public vote.

The proposals originate from the 15-member Charter Review Commission, a body that convenes every decade to audit the county’s governing document. Commission Chair Mark James stated that the package addresses practical operational issues. However, the local political landscape is divided on how to vote. The Snohomish County Republican Party urges a yes on all five measures. The county Democratic Party recommends a no on all five, citing different concerns than the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County, which also advises rejecting the entire package.

Proposition 5 changes the voting requirement for new councilmanic taxes. Currently, a simple majority of three council members can approve such taxes. The amendment would require at least four of the five members to vote yes for any new tax imposed after Jan. 1, 2027. Existing taxes and renewals that do not raise the rate remain unaffected. Proposition 2 requires the county to keep separate reserve funds for revenue shifts and emergencies, with a four-vote threshold to spend from those accounts.

Other proposals address administrative functions. Proposition 1 mandates that the county prioritize funding for state-mandated services, such as the sheriff and prosecutor offices, before expanding discretionary programs. Proposition 3 removes party labels from ballots for county council, executive, and prosecutor races. Proposition 4 requires the county to provide searchable, downloadable online records of contracts and expenditures where reasonably practicable.

Critics focus on how the commission gathered public input. Brenda Mann Harrison, president of the local League of Women Voters, argued that the process limited public comment to three minutes per speaker. She noted that there was no mechanism for speakers to respond to commissioner questions or correct the record. "Public comment was limited to three minutes per speaker before deliberations began," Harrison said. She also pointed to the timing of hearings, noting that some occurred after initial votes were cast.

Four commissioners, including Demi Chatters, Jennifer Gregerson, Amanda Dodd, and Robin McGee, issued a dissenting letter on May 27. They claimed that public efforts to contribute were often met with procedural barriers or dismissal. James responded that the commission held open meetings online and in person, following procedures similar to the County Council. "The ultimate check is democratic: the five amendments appear on the November ballot for every voter to accept or reject," James said.

Cassie Fannin, a spokeswoman for the Snohomish County Council office, explained that the council’s role was administrative. The council transmitted the amendments to the county auditor without editing the text. If voters approve an amendment, it generally takes effect 10 days after election results are certified. If an implementation ordinance is required, the council has 180 days from the effective date to enact it.

The commission considered about 25 proposals from various sources. James noted that 11 submissions came from the public. The deadline for suggesting amendments was April 8, 2026. The county held three additional public hearings in May to discuss the potential changes.