Everett EMS Levy Results & 2027 Property Tax Explainer: Proposition 1 Lid Lift Passed

Updated Nov 2, 2026 — refreshed post-election results explainer.

What was the outcome of the Everett EMS levy measure? On August 4, 2026, Everett voters decisively approved Proposition 1, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) property tax levy lid lift, with nearly 75% voting yes. The approved measure restores the city’s regular EMS levy rate from approximately $0.36 per $1,000 of assessed value back to $0.50 per $1,000 for tax years 2027 and 2028. For the average Everett homeowner (assessed value ~$571,000), the adjustment will add approximately $80 per year starting on 2027 property tax statements. The levy stabilizes funding for roughly 78 firefighter-paramedic positions inside the Everett Fire Department.

On August 4, 2026, City of Everett voters approved Proposition 1 on the primary election ballot, passing the emergency medical services levy lid lift with nearly 75% of the vote. The measure does not take effect until the 2027 property tax year, giving homeowners and commercial property owners advance notice of the adjustment.

This explainer breaks down the certified election results in plain English: how the $0.50 rate works, what changes on your 2027 tax bill, what the revenue funds, and why Everett periodically votes on this exact lid lift.

Certified Results: August 4, 2026 Primary Election

Proposition 1 required a simple majority (50% plus one vote) of Everett voters to pass. The certified Snohomish County Elections results confirmed strong citywide support:

• Approval Rate: Nearly 75% Yes.
• Ballot Measure Title: City of Everett Proposition No. 1 — Emergency Medical Services Property Tax Levy Lid Lift.
• Effective Tax Years: Restores the rate to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for 2027 and 2028.
• Statutory Limit Reset: Beginning in 2029, the state’s statutory 1% annual revenue growth limit under Initiative 747 (RCW 84.55.010) resumes on the new levy base.
• Election Status: Certified by Snohomish County Elections. Note: This measure was finalized on the August 4 primary ballot and does not appear on any subsequent autumn ballot.

The $0.36-to-$0.50 Math: What Changes on Your 2027 Tax Bill

Washington property tax rates are expressed in dollars per $1,000 of assessed value. Prior to the vote, Everett’s EMS levy rate had eroded over eight years to approximately $0.36 per $1,000. Proposition 1 restores the rate to the voter-authorized ceiling of $0.50 per $1,000 for 2027 and 2028.

The table below illustrates the exact annual and monthly adjustment across various assessed home values:

For more details on homeowner assessments, consult our guide to Everett homeowner property tax impacts and our coverage of Everett EMS levy lid lift mechanics.

Renters do not pay property taxes directly, but property tax adjustments can be factored into residential leases over time. Commercial property owners also pay the approved rate on commercial parcels.

Senior & Veteran Exemptions: Low-to-moderate-income seniors (age 61+) and disabled veterans may qualify for property tax reductions or full exemptions under RCW 84.36.381 through the Snohomish County Assessor’s Office.

What “Levy Lid Lift” Actually Means

A levy lid lift is a voter-approved measure that authorizes a taxing district to raise its regular property tax levy rate back up to a statutory or previously authorized ceiling. It does not introduce a permanent uncapped tax; rather, it resets the collection baseline.

Under Washington’s Initiative 747 (passed in 2001 and codified in RCW 84.55.010), local governments cannot increase the total property tax revenue they collect by more than 1% per year without voter approval, regardless of inflation or population growth.

Because Everett’s property values and operational costs have grown substantially faster than 1% annually, the effective tax rate per $1,000 dropped steadily over time from $0.50 to $0.36. By approving Proposition 1, Everett voters “lifted the lid” back to $0.50 for two years (2027–2028), after which the 1% annual revenue cap re-engages on the updated total in 2029.

What the 78 Firefighter-Paramedic Positions Actually Do

The Everett Fire Department handles more than 25,000 emergency calls each year, and roughly 85% to 90% of those calls involve emergency medical services (EMS) rather than structural fires. Medical calls range from cardiac arrests and traumatic vehicle collisions to severe respiratory distress and behavioral health crises.

The EMS levy revenue is legally dedicated exclusively to emergency medical response. By law, it cannot be diverted into general municipal administration, parks, or street paving. The revenue sustains roughly 78 firefighter-paramedic and EMT positions, funding:

• Paramedic-staffed aid cars and front-line response units across city fire stations.
• Advanced life support (ALS) medical equipment, defibrillators, cardiac monitors, and emergency medications.
• Medical transport billing offsets and ongoing specialized clinical training.
• Coordinated crisis response protocols with local hospital emergency departments.

Why the Levy Passes on an Eight-Year Cycle: The 2000–2026 Lineage

August’s vote is part of an established historical pattern in Everett municipal finance:

• 2000: Everett voters originally authorized the dedicated EMS levy at $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.
• 2010: After a decade of 1% cap erosion, voters approved a lid lift restoring the rate to $0.50.
• 2018: Voters approved another lid lift restoring the eroded rate back to $0.50.
• 2026: Voters approved Proposition 1 with nearly 75% support on August 4, restoring the rate from $0.36 to $0.50 for 2027–2028.

Because the statutory 1% revenue cap predictably suppresses the rate over six to eight years while personnel and medical supply costs rise, the city must periodically ask voters to reset the rate to maintain current response capacity.

What Everett Fire Leadership Stated

During the April 2026 City Council hearings placing the measure on the primary ballot, Everett Fire Chief Dave DeMarco emphasized that the EMS fund remained solvent, but required stabilization to prevent future staffing reductions:

“This is about sustaining what we have built. Our call volumes have grown alongside the city, and emergency medical calls represent the vast majority of our work every single day. Approving this lid lift maintains our existing staffing and response times without cutting front-line crews.”

What Changes in 2027: Implementation & Staffing Impact

Because Proposition 1 passed, the following milestones take effect:

• 2027 Property Tax Statements: Homeowners will see the updated EMS levy line item reflected on tax bills issued in early 2027.
• Staffing Maintained: Everett Fire Department avoids the projected operational deficit that would have triggered unit consolidations or reduced staffing on aid cars.
• Budget Boundary: The measure directly stabilizes EMS response, but operates separately from the city’s general fund challenges. For broader municipal context, see our analysis of Mayor Franklin’s five municipal priorities, our report on the Everett utility tax household impact, and our regional guide to the Snohomish County Charter Review proposals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the results of the 2026 Everett EMS levy vote?

Everett voters approved Proposition 1 on the August 4, 2026 primary election ballot with nearly 75% voting yes, successfully restoring the levy rate to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Is the Everett EMS levy up for another vote in 2026?

No. The EMS levy lid lift was finalized and approved on the August 4, 2026 primary ballot. It is enacted into law and does not appear on any subsequent ballot.

When does the new $0.50 tax rate take effect?

The restored rate takes effect with the 2027 property tax year. Homeowners will see the adjusted rate on their 2027 property tax statements.

How much will the EMS levy cost the average homeowner?

For an Everett home at the city average assessed value of $571,000, the approved lid lift will add approximately $80 per year (about $6.66 per month) compared to the eroded $0.36 rate.

What does the levy revenue pay for?

The funds are legally restricted to Emergency Medical Services, funding roughly 78 firefighter-paramedic positions, front-line aid cars, advanced life support equipment, and medical training within the Everett Fire Department.