Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council backs pushing county for city carve‑out in proposed public‑safety sales tax
Summary
Councilors signaled support for asking Snohomish County to allocate a portion of any new public‑safety sales tax directly back to the cities where the revenue originates (proposal discussed: an origin‑based split such as 80/20). Council will consider a formal resolution or motion to send representatives to the county hearing.
Council President Coelho led a discussion of a county proposal for a public‑safety sales tax under consideration by the county council. Coelho said cities should press for an origin‑based distribution or automatic payments to jurisdictions generating the revenue rather than a discretionary county grant program.
"If it's gonna pass... we want to make sure that cities get a carve out of some sort," Coelho said, urging colleagues to support a distribution approach that ties funds to where sales tax is generated. Several councilors supported negotiating for an 80/20 split (or similar) that would keep a defined share local, and the mayor noted the county executive had circulated a memo opposing revenue sharing.
Councilors directed staff and the council president to prepare a strongly worded letter or motion for the county public hearing and to coordinate with neighboring cities so the message is unified. Several members said they would support a motion next week to send a council representative to testify in favor of a stable, formulaic split.
