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Snohomish County council advances technical steps for Transportation Benefit District, refers funding ordinance for more study
Summary
After extensive public testimony supporting a $20 annual vehicle fee to shore up county roads, the Snohomish County Council approved two related TBD ordinances but voted to send the funding ordinance back to committee for broader discussion of long-term funding options.
The Snohomish County Council on May 13 approved two ordinances that set up the county’s Transportation Benefit District (TBD) structure but referred the related funding ordinance — which would impose a $20 annual vehicle license fee for residents in unincorporated Snohomish County — back to the Public Infrastructure Committee for further study.
Deb Bevis, council staff, told the council the three ordinances are related: one provides formal public notice, another transfers the TBD’s rights and functions to county government, and the third would add a county code section to allow an annual vehicle fee of up to $20 under state law. Bevis said the proposed $20 fee would not take effect until six months after adoption and that TBD funds could be used for projects listed in council-approved transportation planning documents.
Supporters who testified during the public hearing said the modest fee would shore up maintenance and preserve grant funding. Kent Patton, deputy executive speaking for Executive Summers, said without local funding the county risks returning $66,500,000 in grant funding, cancelling 14 projects and losing 34 full-time positions. "We need to ensure funding is available for key maintenance," Patton said. Snohomish County Sheriff Susanna Johnson urged passage for traffic-safety and emergency response reasons, saying there are currently 13 bridges rescue apparatus cannot travel.
Several municipal and business groups voiced support. Ray Stevenson of the Economic Alliance Snohomish County described a widening funding gap and called the $20 fee a "practical, locally controlled solution." Lance Calloway of the Associated General Contractors said the fee would generate about $6,000,000 per year to keep roads and bridges safe and reliable.
Council members acknowledged the need but said the $20 fee would not solve the county’s larger structural funding shortfall. Vice Chair Loe and Councilmember Mead both recommended moving the first two technical ordinances forward while sending the revenue ordinance back to committee for broader options — including possible use of REIT dollars or a future voter measure. Councilmember Peterson emphasized the fee would benefit people who rely on buses, sidewalks and other non-car modes as well as drivers.
On roll call votes, the council adopted ordinance 26-011 (notice of intent) and ordinance 26-010 (assumption of TBD rights and powers) by 5-0 votes. The council then voted to refer ordinance 26-009 (the code change that would authorize the $20 fee) back to the Public Infrastructure Committee for additional study and public engagement; the record will remain open on that item.
The council left open a path for later action: members directed staff to bring the TBD revenue ordinance back to committee for a broader discussion of funding options and timelines rather than adopting the $20 fee at this meeting.
Next steps: the council’s public infrastructure committee will consider the funding ordinance in June, where members expect additional financial analysis and discussion of alternative revenue packages.
