Council approves interlocal agreement to collect Everett's special assessments; fiscal impact uncertain

The Snohomish County Council on Feb. 12 approved Ordinance 25-003, authorizing the county executive to execute an interlocal agreement with the City of Everett under which the county treasurer will collect special assessments levied by Everett and the city will reimburse the county for reasonable costs. Council staff said the service fee under the agreement will be 1% of special assessments collected and the agreement term runs through Dec. 31, 2026. The ordinance passed on a 5-0 roll call.

Jim Martin, council staff, explained that upon execution the county treasurer would be authorized to collect assessments levied by Everett and that the city would reimburse the county’s reasonable costs; the staff presentation noted a 1% service fee tied to RCW authority. Council members asked whether the agreement has a fiscal impact for the county. Martin said the actual dollar impact depends on how much the City of Everett levies and collects in special assessments and therefore cannot be projected at the time of the hearing. He suggested any realized revenue could be reflected in future revenue projections, such as the mid‑biennium review for 2026.

Members of the public did not testify on the item. A council member moved to approve the ordinance; the motion was seconded and the roll call vote was unanimously in favor: Vice Chair Dunne yes; Council Member Mead yes; Council Member Lowe yes; Council Member Peterson yes; Chair Nehring yes.

The transcript records the county’s authority to collect assessments, a 1% service fee as described by staff, and an unspecified fiscal impact pending Everett’s levies and collections. The ordinance authorizes the executive to enter the interlocal agreement; the transcript does not include the draft agreement text, nor does it list expected collections or the county department assigned to administer the work.