Lynnwood to suggest amendment to the County Council’s proposed public safety sales tax

The Snohomish County Council is considering a 0.1% public safety sales tax to help plug some of the financial holes that have been created by inflation and the slowing of consumer spending. Because Lynnwood has also utilized the 0.1% public safety tax, as allowed by state law, the City Council has elected to address its concerns about another public safety tax being passed onto their constituents by suggesting an amendment to the County’s proposed tax.

On Monday, City Council president Nick Coelho suggested that he and his colleagues put together a letter recommend an 80/20 split for the County Council’s proposed public safety sales tax increase. His proposal would mean that the county receives 80% of this public safety tax revenue raised in the cities, while the cities would keep 20% that’s raised in their jurisdiction – the county would keep 100% of the revenue raised in unincorporated Snohomish County under this proposal.

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This recommendation came about because several cities that will be impacted by this proposed sales tax have already implemented their own 0.1% public safety tax to help fund their police. Another tax increase to help the county cover it’s own public safety needs on the city’s residents, without any of the revenue staying in the city, has received strenuous objections from the all members of the city council – especially since anywhere between 15% to 20% of the County’s sales tax revenue comes from Lynnwood.

The City Council agreed that they should write a letter to the County Council and present it at the public comment hearing on August 12th, 2026. It sounded like Coelho will be the one to make the recommendation on behalf of his colleagues and constituents.

During the meeting, mayor George Hurst read an email that was sent to his fellow mayor’s and municipal executives from County executive Dave Somers that made it clear he did not want to share the tax revenue with the cities due to the financial issues the County government is wrestling with due to the slowing economy, coupled with inflation.

This is in contrast to an amendment that has been proposed by County council member Nate Nehring. Nehring’s proposal would pool 15% of the Justice Fund sales tax revenue (from the entire county) into a grant program that could be distributed to cities and municipalities as they apply for it. The amendment would also postpone the start of the tax from January 1st, 2027 to April 1st, 2027.

Coelho is going to bring a letter to the meeting on Monday, August 10th for the City Council to vote on so that there is consistent, and strong, message to present to the County Council on August 12th.

Spokane fires

The City of Spokane has made the decision to utilize its H.O.M.E Starts Here Fund to assist victims of the wildfires that have torched the city. This fund will assist with short- & long-term rent, diapers, baby formula, back to school supplies, basic house ware needs, furniture and other household needs as families try to rebuild their lives. As the city and its residents are working through the recovery process, the city will forgo it’s typical administrative fee so that 100% of each donation will go to those in need.

If you want to donate to this fund, click here.

More news from the Lynnwood City Council’s August 3rd, 2026 meeting