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Council holds public hearings on mid‑biennium budget amendments, county property tax levies and Snohomish EMS levy; no public testimony
Summary
Council held three related public hearings Oct. 21 — the 2025–26 mid‑biennium budget amendments, proposed 1% increases to King and Snohomish County property tax levies for 2026, and a 1% EMS levy increase for the Snohomish portion of Bothell. Staff outlined amendments and assumptions; no members of the public testified at any hearing.
Bothell — At a block of public hearings Oct. 21 City finance staff presented the proposed mid‑biennium (2025–26) budget amendments, the proposed 1% property tax levies (King and Snohomish counties) and a proposed 1% increase to the emergency medical services (EMS) levy for the Snohomish County portion of Bothell.
Deputy Finance Director summarized the mid‑biennium amendments as including a transfer to the budget stabilization fund, initiation of opioid settlement spending, a correction for low‑income housing assistance funding that had been omitted from the original budget, and a set of capital project adjustments. Capital adjustments fell into three categories: increases due to higher capital project costs, schedule shifts for delayed projects, and a state‑reimbursable $3.7 million site purchase (Shop 1) to be fully reimbursed by the state. Staff emphasized that most of the capital adjustments were net neutral because they include grant or other external reimbursement.
On the property tax hearings staff explained the November deadline and the assumptions governing the 2026 levy submittals (1% increase plus new construction). Finance noted the city portion of property tax for a typical county taxpayer is small relative to school and other taxing districts and asked the council to hold the public hearing so the levy ordinances can be transmitted to the counties by the statutory deadline.
The council also convened as the Bothell Urban Emergency Medical Services District Board for the Snohomish portion EMS levy hearing. Staff reviewed the district history and the assumption in the draft budget that the 1% EMS levy increase would be taken for 2026. The board opened and closed the public hearing with no public comment, then reconvened as the city council.
No public speakers signed up for any of the three hearings. Council took no action Oct. 21 other than to hold the hearings; staff will return with any ordinance adoption items necessary to meet county filing deadlines.
