Everett Finance Director Heide Brillantes, assistant finance manager Jamielynn Graves and, at right, city head of communications Simone Tarver, present information about the Everett Levy Lid Lift proposition July 9, 2024 in a conference room inside the downtown Everett library.
Photo by Michael Whitney.
EVERETT — The city’s Proposition 1, asking to lift its property tax levy by above the state’s limit of 1%, will soon be on the Aug. 6 primary ballots for voters inside the city.
Ballots will be mailed out beginning July 18.
(Voters outside the Port of Everett’s boundaries will be voting on a Port boundaries expansion measure on their Aug. 6 ballots.)
During July, the city will be hosting public information meetings where staff members will be available to answer questions.
Those will be
• Tuesday, July 9, 5:30-7 p.m., Everett Public Library Main Branch, Activity Room (located near Youth Services), 2701 Hoyt Ave. ,
• Saturday, July 27, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Everett Public Library Evergreen Branch, Activity Room A, 9512 Evergreen Way and
• Tuesday, July 30, 5:30-7 p.m., Everett Station, Weyerhaeuser Room (4th floor), 3201 Smith Ave.
The measure asks residents to set property taxes at up to $2.19 per $1,000, beyond the state-limited 1% cap, will be on August ballots.
Everett’s current tax rate is $1.52 per $1,000 in assessed value, plus an EMS levy tax.
If approved, the city estimates the average homeowner will pay about $336 ($28 a month) in additional property taxes.
For renters, it could increase rent by 1% if landlords pass on the increase, a city official said in May.
The difference appears to translate to about a 7% increase for the average homeowner. Without asking to go above the 1% limit, Mayor Cassie Franklin has said the city has little else to cut without cutting services.
The measure pitches that the increased funding would be allocated toward parks, events, public safety and more. It also could result in the city exploring how to restore library hours, explore reopening the Forest Park Pool and restoring a full-time staffer in the city’s Office of Neighborhoods.
