Tygart Media

Tag: Local Government

  • The 2026 Dual Charter Review: How Everett and Snohomish County Are Rewriting Their Constitutional Documents at the Same Time, and What Ballot Items Voters Will See Next

    The 2026 Dual Charter Review: How Everett and Snohomish County Are Rewriting Their Constitutional Documents at the Same Time, and What Ballot Items Voters Will See Next

    Quick Answer: In 2026, both the City of Everett and Snohomish County are running active charter review processes — parallel, independent efforts that could reshape how local government works in the Everett area for the next decade. Charter reviews are the mechanism by which the foundational documents of local government get examined and, where voters approve, amended. The Everett review is looking at city council structure, mayoral authority, and citizen engagement processes. The county review is examining county council districts, the executive role, and the charter’s civil rights language. Both processes will produce ballot items that Everett-area voters will decide on in 2026 and 2027.

    What a Charter Is and Why It Matters

    A local government charter is the constitutional document for a city or county — the top-level rulebook that defines how the government is structured, what powers the council and executive have, and how citizens can petition, vote on, and change policy. The City of Everett operates under a charter adopted by voters and amended periodically. Snohomish County is one of only a handful of Washington counties that operates under a home-rule charter rather than the default county commission structure, which means voters there have direct authority to reshape county government in ways that voters in most Washington counties don’t.

    Charter reviews happen on a schedule set by each charter. The City of Everett’s charter calls for periodic review by a commission of appointed or elected residents whose job is to study the current charter, hold public hearings, and recommend amendments for the ballot. Snohomish County’s charter similarly provides for periodic review. In 2026, both review processes are running concurrently — a rare alignment that means Everett-area voters could see charter-related ballot items from both jurisdictions in the same election cycle.

    The City of Everett Charter Review in 2026

    The City of Everett’s 2026 charter review commission is actively working through the city’s charter section by section. The issues most frequently discussed in public sessions include the structure of city council representation (districts versus at-large, and the size of the council), the relationship between the mayor and the city council, the process by which citizens can propose ballot measures, and the charter’s language around open meetings and public records. These are foundational questions: the outcomes could determine whether Everett continues with its current strong-mayor structure, whether council districts are redrawn, and whether new citizen engagement mechanisms are added.

    Practical impact for Everett residents depends on which recommendations make it to the ballot and which voters approve. A charter amendment that restructures council districts could change which council member represents a given neighborhood. An amendment expanding citizen initiative rights could make it easier for residents to put policy questions directly to voters. An amendment changing mayoral authority could reshape how big-ticket decisions like the Everett Transit merger, waterfront development, and public safety policy get made. Residents who want to shape these outcomes should track charter commission meeting agendas and public hearings — both are the primary public input channels before recommendations go to the ballot.

    The Snohomish County Charter Review in 2026

    Snohomish County’s 2026 charter review is running in parallel at the county level. The county’s charter review commission was seated in 2025 and has been holding public sessions across the county — including in Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, and Arlington — to gather input on the items under consideration. The issues most often raised include county council district boundaries, the county executive’s role, language on citizen advisory boards, charter provisions for civil rights and non-discrimination, and procedural questions about how the county contracts and procures services.

    For Everett residents specifically, the county charter review matters because Snohomish County delivers services that overlap directly with city life: the Sheriff’s Office provides patrol services in unincorporated areas just outside Everett and contracts for regional services inside Everett; the county court system handles felonies, family law, and civil cases for Everett residents; and county-wide programs like the Assessor’s Office, Public Health, and the Elections Division touch every Everett household. Amendments to the county charter can change the terms of any of those relationships.

    Where the Two Reviews Overlap and Where They Don’t

    The city and county charter reviews are legally independent — neither has authority over the other, and the ballot items they produce will be voted on separately. But the practical effects overlap in important ways. Both reviews are examining citizen engagement mechanisms, so amendments from either or both could change how residents interact with local government. Both are examining district boundaries, so residents could see changes to the geographic units that define their council and commission representation. And both are happening in a political environment where trust in local government, housing policy, public safety, and civil rights are active debates — meaning the charter questions are being asked against a backdrop of real policy stakes.

    Where they diverge: the city charter review is focused on Everett-specific governance questions and its outcomes affect only Everett residents. The county charter review’s outcomes affect all 800,000+ Snohomish County residents. That asymmetry matters for turnout and for which issues get the most attention at public hearings.

    How Residents Participate

    Both charter review processes run on public input. The standard channels are: attending charter commission meetings (both reviews post agendas in advance), submitting written comments through the commission’s public portal, testifying at public hearings, participating in neighborhood-level information sessions held throughout the review period, and, ultimately, voting on whatever recommendations reach the ballot. Residents who want to influence specific outcomes should identify the commissioners representing their area, attend at least one session, and submit written comments on the issues they care about.

    The Timeline: When Ballot Items Appear

    Both reviews are working toward ballot items that could appear in 2026 and 2027 elections. The exact timing depends on when each commission finalizes recommendations and when those recommendations clear procedural requirements for ballot placement. Snohomish County Elections will publish the final ballot composition for each election cycle roughly 90 days before the election. Voters should expect to see at least some charter-related items in the November 2026 general election, with additional items potentially carrying over to 2027 depending on how the commissions pace their work.

    Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Charter Reviews

    Are the city and county charter reviews the same process?

    No. They are independent. The City of Everett’s review examines the city charter. The Snohomish County review examines the county charter. They happen to be running concurrently in 2026, but they produce separate ballot items and are decided by voters separately.

    Can charter reviews change everything about local government?

    In theory, yes, within state and federal law. In practice, charter reviews produce amendments — not full replacements. Voters decide each amendment separately.

    How do I know who my charter review commissioners are?

    The City of Everett publishes its charter review commission roster on the city website. Snohomish County does the same. Both include contact information for commissioners.

    What happens if I don’t vote on charter items?

    Charter amendments require majority voter approval to pass. If you don’t vote, you don’t shape the outcome, but the amendments don’t fail automatically — they pass or fail based on votes cast.

    Do these reviews affect Everett Transit, the waterfront, or other current issues?

    Indirectly, yes. Charter amendments can change how the city council and mayor make decisions on these items, which can affect outcomes. They don’t directly legislate on transit or waterfront policy, but they shape the rules under which those decisions are made.

    Related Coverage From Tygart Media’s Exploring Everett Series

  • What Everett’s Transit Merger Means for You as a Rider: A 2026 Resident’s Guide to the Community Transit Annexation

    What Everett’s Transit Merger Means for You as a Rider: A 2026 Resident’s Guide to the Community Transit Annexation

    Q: I ride Everett Transit or Community Transit today. What actually changes for me if the merger goes through?

    A: If you live inside Everett city limits and use the bus, four practical things change after the Everett Transit → Community Transit annexation is approved and phased in: (1) one agency, one fare structure, one app, one schedule for every bus you ride inside the city; (2) your sales tax rate on purchases in Everett goes up by roughly 0.6 percentage points, reflecting Community Transit’s 1.2% transit tax replacing Everett Transit’s ~0.6%; (3) existing Everett Transit passes will be honored during an approximately one-year transition per public statements from both agencies; (4) route changes inside Everett will be evaluated as part of Community Transit’s regular service change cycle — potentially more coverage from the higher tax base, potentially some consolidation where Everett Transit and Community Transit routes already overlap.

    The rider’s cheat sheet

    Today: Two agencies. Everett Transit runs local Everett routes and some downtown circulators. Community Transit runs Swift BRT, commuter buses to Seattle and Lynnwood, and the rest of Snohomish County’s network. After the merger: One agency. Community Transit operates all of it. Your OneBusAway, your ORCA tap, your transfer from a Swift Blue Line bus to a local Everett route — all in one system.

    What happens to your pass

    Both agencies have publicly committed to honoring existing Everett Transit fare media during the transition. The interlocal agreement (the legal document the two agencies are drafting through summer 2026) will spell out exactly how long. Expect a unified Community Transit fare structure to phase in over approximately a year after the agreement is signed. If you buy monthly, watch for official notice before making your next annual commitment.

    Your bus route, specifically

    Everett Transit routes 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 18, 29, and 70 are the most likely to be reviewed for integration with neighboring Community Transit service. Some may keep their current alignment under new numbers. Some may consolidate with overlapping Community Transit routes. And some may actually expand frequency or span of service — the stated goal from both the mayor and the Community Transit CEO is to grow service using the higher sales tax revenue, not cut it. Specific route decisions happen in the interlocal agreement and the first post-merger service change cycle.

    The sales tax change

    Inside Everett city limits, the transit portion of sales tax would rise from ~0.6% to 1.2% — a 0.6-point increase. On a $100 purchase in Everett, that is an extra $0.60. On a $25,000 car purchase, that is an extra $150. It does not apply to groceries, prescription medication, or most services. It does apply to most retail and restaurant transactions inside the city.

    Why this isn’t going to your ballot

    The 2025 state law (amended in 2026) that made this pathway available treats transit annexation as a government-to-government action between two PTBAs (Public Transportation Benefit Areas). The legal trigger is a public hearing plus approval from both boards, not a voter referendum. If you want to weigh in, the public hearing(s) — expected in the September to October window at City Hall and at Community Transit board meetings — are the formal venue. Council member contact information is on everettwa.gov.

    What to do now if you’re a rider

    Keep riding. Nothing changes until the interlocal agreement is signed, which is targeted for late 2026, and then the phase-in takes roughly another year. Watch for official service change notices from Everett Transit and Community Transit, sign up for Community Transit’s rider alerts, and if you have strong feelings about specific Everett Transit routes, attend the public hearings when they are scheduled.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Will Swift bus rapid transit change?

    No. Swift is already Community Transit and continues as-is.

    Will my commuter bus to Seattle change?

    Sound Transit Express buses and future Everett Link light rail are operated by Sound Transit, a separate regional agency, and are not part of this annexation.

    Will fares go up right away?

    No. Existing Everett Transit fare media will be honored during transition per public statements from both agencies. A unified Community Transit fare structure will phase in over approximately one year after the agreement is signed.

    Will routes inside my Everett neighborhood be cut?

    Not automatically. Route decisions happen in the interlocal agreement and the first post-merger service change cycle. Both the mayor and Community Transit CEO have publicly stated the goal is service expansion funded by the higher sales tax — not cuts. The public hearings in the fall are where specific neighborhoods can weigh in.

    Do I pay more in property tax?

    No. This is a sales tax change inside Everett city limits only, not a property tax measure.

    Related coverage

    See the complete 2026 Everett Transit merger guide, our original coverage of the April 22 announcement, and our resident guide to Everett’s 2027 budget deficit.

    Related Coverage From Tygart Media’s Exploring Everett Series

  • The Everett Transit Merger Into Community Transit: The Complete 2026 Guide to the Annexation, the No-Ballot Pathway, and What It Changes

    The Everett Transit Merger Into Community Transit: The Complete 2026 Guide to the Annexation, the No-Ballot Pathway, and What It Changes

    Q: What does the Everett Transit merger with Community Transit actually mean, and why is this happening now?

    A: On April 22, 2026, Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin and Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz jointly announced the resumption of efforts to annex Everett Transit into Community Transit’s service district. Under a 2025 state law amended in 2026, that annexation no longer requires a public vote — only approval by the Everett City Council and the Community Transit Board of Directors, following a public hearing. The two agencies aim to have an interlocal agreement ready for a final vote by the end of 2026, with service changes phased in over roughly one year afterward. If approved, Community Transit’s 1.2% transit sales tax would replace Everett’s current ~0.6% rate inside city limits, roughly doubling dedicated transit revenue. The stated motivation is light rail readiness: Sound Transit’s Everett Link extension is moving toward Everett Station and Paine Field in the next decade, and a single regional operator simplifies the bus network that feeds it.

    Why the Everett Transit merger matters more than a typical agency reorg

    This is the biggest structural change to transit in Everett since Everett Transit became its own municipal system. Cassie Franklin and Ric Ilgenfritz didn’t pick April 22 by accident — they picked it because the political plumbing is finally in place. In 2025, the Washington State Legislature passed a law allowing Public Transportation Benefit Areas (like Community Transit) to annex city-operated transit agencies through an interlocal agreement rather than a voter referendum. That law was amended in 2026 to clarify the process. The first city in the state that can use it at scale is Everett, and the agencies want to be first.

    The timeline in plain English

    Summer 2026: Everett Transit and Community Transit draft the interlocal agreement, work through labor and asset transfer provisions, and hold public hearings. Fall 2026: The Everett City Council and the Community Transit Board of Directors take up the agreement for a final vote, expected before the end of the calendar year. 2027: If approved, Everett Transit becomes a service division inside Community Transit, with a phase-in period of approximately one year. The 1.2% Community Transit sales tax rate replaces Everett’s current ~0.6% Everett Transit rate inside the city. Bus routes, fare structure, driver hiring, and facilities consolidate under one roof.

    What actually changes for riders

    Community Transit runs the Swift bus rapid transit lines, every Snohomish County commuter bus into Seattle and Lynnwood, and a larger fleet with a broader route network than Everett Transit. For riders who already use both agencies to stitch a trip together, this is mostly good news: one fare, one app, one schedule, one customer service line. For riders who stay inside Everett’s boundaries, routes may consolidate and evolve — and that is the piece the public hearing phase is meant to surface. Advocates at Keep Everett Transit have voiced concern that a larger agency might deprioritize intra-Everett service. Franklin and Ilgenfritz have both publicly said expanded service, not cuts, is the goal — driven by the higher sales tax rate unlocking roughly 2x the dedicated transit revenue.

    Why no ballot measure this time

    The last serious merger conversation — around 2020 — stalled because the path forward appeared to require a public vote, and no one wanted to run that election during COVID. The 2025 law removes that barrier. Whether that is good governance is a live debate. HeraldNet’s editorial page carried a reader letter on April 23 arguing the merger should go to a ballot anyway. Proponents counter that transit annexations are technical government-to-government agreements, not policy referendums, and that the public hearing requirement plus the council vote provide sufficient democratic accountability.

    The light rail context you can’t ignore

    Sound Transit’s Everett Link extension is the subtext of every transit decision in this city right now. ST3 promised light rail to Everett Station by 2036; 2026 planning scenarios range from that original timeline to phased delivery reaching Paine Field first. Whichever scenario lands, the bus network that feeds light rail needs to be designed as one system, not two. A unified Community Transit handling Everett, Lynnwood, Mukilteo, and the Swift corridors is operationally simpler than coordinating across two agencies. That operational case — more than the sales tax math — is what moved this off the shelf in 2026.

    What to watch next

    Interlocal agreement draft (expected July–August 2026). Public hearings at Everett City Hall and Community Transit board meetings (expected September–October). Final Everett City Council vote and Community Transit Board vote (expected November–December 2026). If approved, look for a joint transition office to stand up in early 2027 and the first route changes to publish in Community Transit’s standard service change window.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Will my Everett Transit pass still work after the merger?

    Yes. During the transition period (approximately one year after the agreements are signed), both agencies have publicly committed to honoring existing fare media while transitioning riders to a unified Community Transit fare structure. Specific fare policy will be finalized in the interlocal agreement.

    Will I pay more in sales tax if the merger goes through?

    Yes, inside Everett city limits. Community Transit collects 1.2% of taxable sales for transit; Everett Transit currently collects approximately 0.6%. The difference — about 0.6 percentage points — would apply to most purchases made in Everett after the transition.

    Why isn’t this going to a public vote?

    A 2025 state law (amended in 2026) allows Public Transportation Benefit Areas like Community Transit to annex municipal transit agencies via an interlocal agreement approved by both governing boards after a public hearing. No ballot measure is required under that statute.

    What happens to Everett Transit drivers and staff?

    The interlocal agreement will include labor and asset transfer provisions. Ric Ilgenfritz has publicly indicated the intent is to absorb Everett Transit’s workforce into Community Transit. Specific terms, union contract alignment, and seniority questions are the kind of detail the summer drafting phase is designed to resolve.

    Does this affect Swift bus rapid transit or Sound Transit service?

    Swift is operated by Community Transit and is unaffected operationally. Sound Transit Express buses and future Everett Link light rail are operated by Sound Transit, a separate regional agency, and are also unaffected by this specific annexation.

    How does this connect to Sound Transit’s Everett Link light rail?

    A unified bus network is easier to design as a light rail feeder than two coordinated agencies. When Everett Link opens (timelines vary by scenario but target the 2030s), buses inside Everett will need to connect riders to stations at Everett Station, Mariner, Lynnwood, and potentially Paine Field — all within Community Transit’s existing service pattern.

    Can the Everett City Council still vote this down?

    Yes. The interlocal agreement requires affirmative votes from both the Everett City Council and the Community Transit Board of Directors. Either body can reject the agreement, send it back for amendment, or decline to schedule a vote.

    Related coverage

    See our source brief on the April 22 Everett Transit merger announcement, our guide to Everett’s 2027 budget decisions, and our breakdown of Sound Transit’s Everett Link extension.

    Related Coverage From Tygart Media’s Exploring Everett Series

  • Snohomish County’s Charter Review Is on November’s Ballot Too — Here’s What Commissioners Are Weighing

    Snohomish County’s Charter Review Is on November’s Ballot Too — Here’s What Commissioners Are Weighing

    What is the Snohomish County Charter Review Commission, and what’s on the table this year?
    The commission is an elected, once-a-decade body of 15 commissioners who review the county’s constitution and can recommend changes to the November ballot. This cycle, they are weighing making the County Executive and County Council seats nonpartisan, and whether to write a budget-funding mandate for core county offices — like the sheriff, prosecutor, and assessor — directly into the charter. The commission held a public meeting on the Snohomish County campus in Everett on April 22 and plans to finalize proposals by the end of May.

    Everett voters will see at least two charter reviews on their November 2026 ballot.

    One belongs to the City of Everett, run by a volunteer committee appointed by the mayor and city council. The other belongs to Snohomish County — a separate body with separate commissioners and separate proposals, all of them touching how the county government itself is elected and funded. Because every Everett resident is also a Snohomish County resident, both sets of questions will land in the same ballot envelope in November.

    The county’s Charter Review Commission held a public meeting on April 22 at 5:30 p.m. in the Jackson Board Room on the 8th floor of the Snohomish County Campus at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett. It is one of a series of spring meetings the commission has scheduled in Lake Stevens, Everett, Arlington, and Mountlake Terrace to take feedback on its draft proposals before finalizing recommendations.

    How the county review is different from Everett’s

    The biggest structural difference is how commissioners arrive on the body. Everett’s Charter Review Committee is appointed by the mayor and city council from a volunteer applicant pool. Snohomish County’s Charter Review Commission is elected. County voters picked commissioners on the November 2025 ballot, in a once-in-a-decade race that rarely draws the attention of bigger contests but directly determines who writes the proposals residents will vote on a year later.

    The commission has 15 seats, with members drawn from across the five county council districts. Their only job is this review. When the cycle ends, the commission dissolves. The next one convenes around 2035.

    As with Everett’s committee, the commission cannot change the charter by itself. It can only recommend changes. The proposals it adopts go to the Snohomish County Council for additional public hearings, and then to the county auditor to be placed on the November general election ballot. Voters have the final say.

    Proposal one: make county elections nonpartisan

    The most attention-grabbing proposal on the table would remove party labels from Snohomish County’s top elected offices. Under the draft, the County Executive, each County Council position, and the County Prosecutor would appear on the ballot without a Republican or Democratic designation.

    The commission voted 11-4 in a March working session to keep the nonpartisan concept alive — enough support to carry the idea into the April public hearings but not a final recommendation. The commissioners who voted to keep it moving argued that county-level administration is largely about services — roads, public safety, courts, elections — that do not break down along partisan lines the way state or federal policy does. Commissioners who voted against it argued that party labels give voters useful information about a candidate’s general priorities, especially in down-ballot races where most voters know little about the individual candidates.

    If the commission’s final recommendation goes forward and voters approve it, Snohomish County would join a handful of other Washington counties and most Washington cities in electing local officials without party labels. The change would not affect state legislators, federal officeholders, or statewide races — just the county offices named in the charter.

    Proposal two: a budget mandate for core county offices

    A second proposal, raised by County Treasurer Brian Sullivan, would write a funding priority directly into the county charter. Under Sullivan’s request, elected leaders would be required to fully fund a set of core county services first in the county budget — before discretionary spending gets allocated.

    The core offices under the proposal are the county Assessor, Sheriff, Prosecuting Attorney, Treasurer, County Clerk, and Superior Court. “Fully funded” in this sense means each department is funded enough to perform its duties required by law.

    Supporters frame the proposal as a fiscal guardrail. If the general fund tightens in a future downturn, the argument goes, a charter-level mandate would protect basic functions like criminal prosecution, property assessment, and court operations from being cut first. Critics raise the opposite concern: locking funding priorities into the charter limits what a future County Council can do when budgets get tight, and could force cuts to services not on the protected list — public health programs, parks, planning — that residents also rely on.

    The commission has been evaluating the proposal through April and has not yet voted on a final version.

    Why Everett residents should pay attention

    Snohomish County’s government sits on Rockefeller Avenue in downtown Everett. When the County Council votes, it votes a few blocks from Everett City Hall, in the same building where the Charter Review Commission meets. Decisions about how the county is governed land directly on Everett residents because Everett is the county seat and its largest city — roughly 115,000 of the county’s 850,000 residents live here.

    The nonpartisan ballot question in particular would change something Everett voters see every November: whether the names next to county executive or county council come with a (D) or (R) attached. For Everett voters used to looking at those labels before deciding, the change would be visible immediately.

    The budget mandate is less visible but more consequential. Snohomish County runs programs Everett residents use regularly, from the Sheriff’s Office that supports some unincorporated areas around the city, to the Superior Court where serious criminal cases are heard, to the Assessor whose valuations drive every Everett property tax bill. Changing how the county has to budget those offices would change how every other county service competes for the remaining dollars.

    How residents can weigh in

    The commission’s meetings are open to the public and posted on the Charter Review Commission page at snohomishcountywa.gov/3520/Charter-Review-Commission. The April meetings across the county are part of the commission’s final listening period before it moves to adopt recommendations.

    The commission has said it expects to take action on all proposals by the end of May. That timeline would send final recommendations to the Snohomish County Council for additional public hearings through early summer, then to the county auditor’s office for ballot preparation. Voters would see the questions on their November 3, 2026 general election ballot.

    As with Everett’s city charter review, residents who want a say need to engage now. Once the ballot text is set by the auditor’s office in late summer, the proposals become up-or-down votes — no amendments, no changes to language, just yes or no on each question.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who is on the Snohomish County Charter Review Commission?

    The commission has 15 elected commissioners representing the county’s five council districts. Voters elected them on the November 2025 ballot. The commission convenes for one review cycle and dissolves afterward.

    How is this different from Everett’s own Charter Review Committee?

    Everett’s committee reviews the Everett city charter and is appointed by the mayor and city council. The Snohomish County commission reviews the county charter and is elected by county voters. Both bodies can send amendments to the November 2026 ballot, but they operate separately and deal with different documents.

    What does “nonpartisan” mean on a ballot?

    It means no party affiliation appears next to the candidate’s name on the ballot. Candidates still hold personal political views and can be endorsed by parties, but the ballot itself does not identify them as Republican, Democrat, or any other party.

    Which county offices would be affected if the nonpartisan proposal passes?

    Under the draft version, the County Executive, each County Council position, and the County Prosecutor would become nonpartisan. Other offices, including the sheriff and assessor, are already nonpartisan under current state law or would remain unchanged.

    What is the Treasurer’s budget mandate proposal?

    The proposal, raised by County Treasurer Brian Sullivan, would require the county to fully fund six specified offices — Assessor, Sheriff, Prosecuting Attorney, Treasurer, County Clerk, and Superior Court — before allocating money to other programs in the budget. “Fully funded” means enough to meet each office’s legally required duties.

    When will the final ballot language be set?

    The commission plans to adopt recommendations by the end of May 2026. After that, the County Council holds its own public hearings, and the county auditor receives the ballot text in the late summer. Questions appear on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.

    How do residents submit input to the commission?

    The commission accepts testimony at its public meetings and also accepts written comments. The Charter Review Commission page at snohomishcountywa.gov/3520/Charter-Review-Commission has the meeting schedule, contact information, and instructions for submitting comments electronically.

    Deeper Coverage in the Exploring Everett Series

    For a more comprehensive treatment of the issues raised in this article, see:

  • Everett’s Charter Review Is Underway — Here’s How Residents Shape What Goes on the November Ballot

    Everett’s Charter Review Is Underway — Here’s How Residents Shape What Goes on the November Ballot

    What is Everett’s charter review, and why does it matter?
    Everett’s charter is the city’s constitution — the document that lays out how the mayor, council, and city departments work. Every decade, a 15-person volunteer committee reviews it and can send changes to the November ballot, where voters have the final say. The 2026 Charter Review Committee held its most recent public hearing on April 18 and is gathering resident input now. Any amendments Everett voters approve in November 2026 would reshape the city’s governance for the next ten years.

    Most Everett residents have never read the city’s charter. That is not unusual — most cities’ charters sit in municipal code and rarely come up in everyday conversation. But the charter is the document that decides who can be mayor, how many council members there are, whether they run by district or at-large, when residents vote on levies, and how the city manages its own finances.

    And every ten years, Everett gives voters a chance to change it.

    That process is happening right now. The 2026 Charter Review Committee — 15 volunteer residents appointed by the mayor and city council — has been meeting since earlier this year to review the charter, take public testimony, and draft recommended changes. The committee held a public hearing on April 18 at Walter E. Hall Park. Any amendments the committee recommends will need a council vote to reach the ballot, and then a majority of Everett voters to take effect.

    What the charter actually controls

    The charter is not the same as the municipal code. The municipal code is the big book of day-to-day rules — zoning, parking, noise ordinances. The charter is smaller and more structural. It answers questions like:

    • Is Everett a strong-mayor city or a council-manager city?
    • How many council members sit on the council?
    • Do they represent districts, the whole city, or both?
    • What are the term lengths for mayor and council?
    • How does the city handle its own initiative and referendum process?
    • What boards and commissions must exist?

    The last time Everett reviewed its charter was 2016. The biggest structural change residents have seen since then came from a separate voter decision in November 2018, when Everett switched from an all-at-large council to a mix of five district seats plus two at-large seats. That change did not come from a charter review — it came from an earlier ballot measure — but it is exactly the kind of question a charter review would take up.

    How the 2026 committee was put together

    Applications to serve on the committee closed in December 2025. In January 2026, the mayor and city council together designated 14 members. A 15th seat is chosen by the committee itself after it first convenes. Members are unpaid volunteers who commit to months of meetings.

    The committee works through two phases. First, members review each section of the current charter and flag potential changes. Second, they take public input, draft final recommendations, and vote on each one. An amendment only moves forward if a majority of committee members vote for it. The recommendation then goes to the Everett City Council, which can either send it to the ballot or decline.

    Only voters approve the final change. The council cannot amend the charter on its own.

    What the April 18 public hearing was for

    The hearing at Walter E. Hall Park on April 18 ran from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Olympic View Room. The format was a standard public comment hearing: residents sign up, the committee listens, comments become part of the official record. The committee had already scheduled an earlier hearing in late March at the Evergreen Branch of the Everett Public Library, 9512 Evergreen Way, to make sure residents in both halves of the city had a chance to speak.

    Public hearings are the most visible part of the process, but they are not the only way to submit input. The committee has also accepted written comments electronically. The city posts committee meeting agendas and minutes on the Agenda Center at everettwa.gov/AgendaCenter, and the Charter Review Committee has its own landing page at everettwa.gov/630/Charter-Review-Committee.

    What happens between now and November

    The timeline is tight. For amendments to reach the November 3, 2026 general election ballot, the committee has to finish its work, the council has to schedule and hold its own public hearings, and the county auditor’s office has to receive the ballot text on time. That typically means the committee’s final recommendations need to land with council by midsummer, with council action by August or early September.

    Residents who missed the April 18 hearing still have time to weigh in. Committee meetings continue to be open to the public, and the city accepts written comments through the Charter Review Committee page. Once the committee finalizes recommendations, the council’s hearings will be separate opportunities for public testimony — another round of chances for residents to speak before the ballot is set.

    Why Everett residents should pay attention

    Charter amendments are the rare civic decision that the city council cannot make alone. Most ordinances — last month’s fair labor rules, the utility tax debate, the 2026 budget — move through council votes without ever reaching voters directly. The charter is different. Residents decide.

    That means what shows up on the November ballot is shaped by who bothers to testify right now. If a resident wants the mayor’s term shortened, the council expanded, initiative signature thresholds lowered, or a new board created to oversee a specific city function, the Charter Review Committee is the body that can put that on the ballot. If no one raises it during this window, it does not make the 2026 ballot — and the next chance is 2036.

    For a city the size of Everett — population roughly 115,000 and still growing — a decade is a long time to wait. The city that votes on this charter in November will be a different city by 2036. Boeing’s 737 North Line will be at full production. Sound Transit’s Link light rail is projected to reach Paine Field around 2037. The Millwright District and the downtown stadium will be built out. The charter that residents send forward this year will govern how Everett’s institutions respond to all of it.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When was Everett’s charter last reviewed?

    The last Charter Review Committee met in 2016. Everett typically reviews its charter about once every ten years.

    Who is on the 2026 Charter Review Committee?

    The committee has 15 members. The mayor and city council designated 14 of them in January 2026 from an applicant pool. The 15th seat was chosen by the committee itself at its first meeting. Members are unpaid volunteers serving a one-time term tied to this review cycle.

    Do voters get the final say on charter changes?

    Yes. The committee recommends changes. The council can put those changes on the ballot. Only Everett voters can actually amend the charter, by majority vote in the November 2026 general election.

    How can residents submit input now?

    The committee accepts public testimony at its scheduled hearings and also accepts written comments. The Charter Review Committee page at everettwa.gov/630/Charter-Review-Committee has the most current contact information, meeting schedule, and links to submit comments electronically.

    Is Everett’s charter review the same as Snohomish County’s?

    No. Snohomish County has its own Charter Review Commission with its own elected commissioners, reviewing the county charter. That body is separate from Everett’s city committee and considers different proposals — including, this cycle, whether county executive and council seats should be nonpartisan. Everett voters will see both sets of questions on the November ballot if both bodies send recommendations forward.

    When is the next chance to amend the charter after 2026?

    Not until the next decennial review, which would be expected around 2036. Individual council members can theoretically propose charter amendments outside of a review cycle, but the organized, public, committee-driven review only happens about once a decade.

    Deeper Coverage in the Exploring Everett Series

    For a more comprehensive treatment of the issues raised in this article, see:

  • Everett Transit Is Merging Into Community Transit: What Yesterday’s Announcement Actually Changes for Riders

    Everett Transit Is Merging Into Community Transit: What Yesterday’s Announcement Actually Changes for Riders

    Q: What did Everett and Community Transit announce on April 22, 2026?
    A: Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin and Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz announced the resumption of joint efforts to consolidate Everett Transit into Community Transit. The two agencies plan to draft an interlocal agreement this summer, aim for a final vote before the end of 2026, and phase in service changes over about a year. Under a 2025 state law amended in 2026, the merger can be approved by the Everett City Council and the Community Transit Board after a public hearing — no ballot measure required.

    Everett Transit Is Merging Into Community Transit: What Yesterday’s Announcement Actually Changes for Riders

    We knew this conversation was coming back. On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin and Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz stood together and restarted one of the biggest quiet-but-consequential conversations in Snohomish County: folding Everett Transit into Community Transit as a single, countywide system.

    If you ride the 7, the 8, or any of the routes that loop between downtown Everett, Casino Road, and Silver Lake, this is your future. And if you care about how Everett connects to Link light rail when it finally shows up, this is arguably the most important local story of the week — bigger than the stadium vote, bigger than the next Port of Everett press release.

    Here is what we actually know, what is still being drafted, and what neighbors are already asking.

    What Was Actually Announced on April 22

    The formal announcement came as a joint statement from the City of Everett and Community Transit. The headline: the two agencies will draft an interlocal agreement for the City of Everett to annex into Community Transit’s service district. That draft will move through the Everett City Council and the Community Transit Board of Directors this fall, with the hope of having a final version ready to vote on before the end of 2026.

    If both bodies approve, service changes would phase in over about a year. In the transition, the existing bus networks of both agencies would largely continue to run the way they do today. The point is not to yank routes on day one. The point is a slow merge where riders see better frequency, fewer transfers, and a single system map where Everett isn’t a walled-off island inside the county.

    Why This Is Suddenly Possible After Years of False Starts

    Everett and Community Transit have looked at this merger before. It has failed before. What’s different in 2026 is a state law, originally passed in 2025 and amended this year, that allows a public transportation benefit area like Community Transit to annex a municipal transit agency through an interlocal agreement — approved by the boards of both governing bodies after a public hearing. No countywide ballot measure. No citywide ballot measure. No two-year petition campaign.

    That is the mechanism. The politics have also shifted. With Sound Transit facing a reported $34.5 billion system-wide deficit and the Everett Link extension timeline already pushed from 2036 into the 2037–2041 window, both the city and the county have a strong interest in making sure that when light rail does land at Everett Station, the local bus network feeding it is unified and legible, not two separate agencies handing off riders at the boundary.

    Mayor Franklin framed it pretty bluntly. Through annexation, Everett can offer residents more connections, more destinations, more frequent buses, shorter waits, and evening service that actually exists.

    The Sales Tax Question Is the One Everybody’s Asking

    This is the part that will show up on a lot of kitchen tables. Everett Transit is funded by a local transit sales tax of roughly 0.6 percent. Community Transit’s rate is roughly 1.2 percent. If the annexation goes through, Community Transit’s rate applies in Everett.

    That math is real. The city and county are already acknowledging it in their communications. The pitch they are making to riders and to taxpayers is that the service delivered in exchange — more frequency, better span of service, integration with the rest of the county, and a cleaner handoff to Link light rail — is worth the step up. Some riders will agree. Some won’t. And the “Keep Everett Transit” organizing we’ve seen over the last couple of years has not disappeared; expect a real public hearing to feel like a real public hearing.

    There’s also a letter already running in the Daily Herald arguing the merger should go to a public vote, not just a council and board vote. Whether that argument picks up momentum over the next few months is one of the things to watch.

    How This Fits Into Everything Else Happening on the Waterfront

    Zoom out. Everett is building out the Millwright District and Waterfront Place at the same time. The AquaSox and USL stadium is heading for a pivotal design-funding vote on April 29. Eclipse Mill Park on the Riverfront is on a two-phase build that runs through 2028. The Sound Transit Everett Link extension is somewhere on the horizon, delayed but not dead.

    All of that assumes a transit network that can actually move people between the new places. Right now, the bus ride between the waterfront and Silver Lake isn’t the same agency as the bus ride between Silver Lake and Lynnwood — which means transfers, separate ORCA card logic for passes, and a system that feels fragmented by geography instead of by trip. A merger does not fix frequency overnight. It does set the table for the next capital plan to fix frequency as one network instead of two.

    Timeline, If Everything Holds

    Here is the rough calendar as Franklin and Ilgenfritz described it:

    • Summer 2026: Staff from Everett and Community Transit draft the interlocal agreement. Public outreach runs alongside it.
    • Fall 2026: Everett City Council and the Community Transit Board take up the draft. Public hearings in both bodies.
    • End of 2026: Target for final approval of the interlocal agreement.
    • 2027 into 2028: Service integration phased in over roughly a year. Route numbers, pass products, and scheduling gradually consolidate.

    That timeline can slip. Interlocal agreements are messy documents — they have to resolve labor representation, asset transfers, paratransit service coverage, and debt. Everett Transit has buses, a fleet yard, maintenance staff, and a paratransit operation that have to land somewhere in the final structure.

    What We’re Watching Over the Next Six Months

    A few things will tell us whether this merger is actually going to land. First: how detailed and transparent the interlocal agreement draft is when it goes public in late summer. Second: whether the fall public hearings surface any major structural objection that the two boards didn’t anticipate. Third: whether Everett Transit operators and maintenance workers — who are represented labor — end up with a clear path into Community Transit’s workforce. Fourth: whether the city finds a clean way to handle the sales tax transition so it doesn’t show up as a surprise on one month’s receipts.

    If all four land cleanly, Everett heads into 2027 as part of one countywide system. If any of them stumbles, this conversation rolls into 2027 and the next council session. Either way, yesterday was the moment the merger went from “studying it” to “drafting the agreement.” That’s real movement.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Will this go to a public vote?
    Under the 2025–2026 state law that makes the annexation possible, the merger can be approved by the Everett City Council and the Community Transit Board after a public hearing, without a citywide or countywide ballot measure. At least one letter to the Daily Herald has argued it should still go on a ballot. The formal process, as described by the two agencies on April 22, does not require a public vote.

    When would the merger actually take effect?
    The two agencies are aiming for a final vote on an interlocal agreement by the end of 2026. Service integration would then phase in over roughly a year — so many visible changes would roll through 2027 and into 2028.

    What happens to the Everett Transit sales tax?
    Everett’s current transit sales tax is about 0.6 percent. Community Transit’s is about 1.2 percent. If the annexation goes through, Community Transit’s rate applies inside Everett.

    Do my current routes disappear?
    Not on day one. The two agencies have said the existing networks will largely be preserved during the transition and integrated over about a year. Expect route numbers and some coverage patterns to change as the single-network map is drawn, but not a hard cutover.

    How does this connect to Sound Transit Link light rail in Everett?
    The stated rationale for merging includes making sure the local bus network is unified when the Everett Link extension eventually opens. A single agency running the last-mile bus service to and from Everett Station is easier to plan around than two separate agencies handing riders off at the city line.

    Who pushed this forward now?
    Mayor Cassie Franklin on the Everett side and CEO Ric Ilgenfritz on the Community Transit side made the April 22 joint announcement. The state law that makes the mechanism possible was sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias of Edmonds.

    What happens to Everett Transit employees?
    That is one of the main issues the interlocal agreement has to resolve. The details — labor representation, wages, benefits, seniority — will be in the public draft when it is released later this year.

    Deeper Coverage in the Exploring Everett Series

    For a more comprehensive treatment of the issues raised in this article, see:

  • Everett Reactivates Flock Camera Network After SB 6002 Becomes Law

    Everett Reactivates Flock Camera Network After SB 6002 Becomes Law

    Why did Everett turn its Flock license plate cameras back on? On April 22, 2026, the City of Everett confirmed it had reactivated its network of 68 Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras after Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 6002 on March 30, 2026. The new state law — the Driver Privacy Act — exempts ALPR footage from the Public Records Act, which had led a Snohomish County judge to rule in February that Everett’s footage was public record and forced the city to pause the network. Most of Everett’s cameras came back online April 7, though a Superior Court hearing on May 14 will test whether the earlier ruling stands.

    What just happened with Everett’s Flock camera network

    On Tuesday, April 22, 2026, the City of Everett confirmed that its network of automated license plate reader cameras operated by Flock Safety has been reactivated. The cameras had been paused since February after a Snohomish County Superior Court judge ruled that Everett’s ALPR footage qualified as a public record under the state Public Records Act.

    According to city officials, Mayor Cassie Franklin directed the Everett Police Department to restart the cameras in early April. Most of the network was back online by April 7, 2026, according to the city. The city filed a motion in Snohomish County Superior Court on April 3 asking the judge to vacate the February ruling in light of a new state law signed just days earlier.

    The state law that changed the picture

    On March 30, 2026, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 6002, known as the Driver Privacy Act. The law explicitly exempts ALPR footage from Washington’s Public Records Act. That single change reshaped the legal footing for every Washington city operating — or considering — a Flock network.

    SB 6002 also includes new guardrails that apply to every ALPR network in the state. According to the final bill text:

    • Agencies can retain ALPR data for no more than 21 days.
    • ALPR use is limited to specific categories of investigation.
    • Sharing data with federal agencies is prohibited.
    • ALPR collection is restricted near schools and health care facilities.

    The law’s stated purpose is to balance law enforcement access to license plate data with driver privacy — especially for people who might be targeted if their movements became discoverable through a public records request. The ACLU of Washington has objected to the law’s 21-day retention period, calling the provision unacceptable; the organization says the original version of the legislation contemplated a 72-hour retention window.

    What Everett Police say the cameras have done

    Everett launched its Flock network in October 2024 under a two-year, $550,000 grant-funded contract signed in June 2024. The city operates 68 ALPR cameras across Everett.

    According to Everett Police, in the months between the October 2024 launch and the February 2026 pause the cameras were used in more than 250 arrests, along with stolen vehicle recoveries and missing-person locates. The city points to those numbers as the case for bringing the cameras back.

    City spokesperson Simone Tarver addressed the restart directly. “This new state law ensures that we can protect the privacy of residents — including victims of domestic violence, harassment, and stalking — from anyone who may have had the intention of misusing this information,” Tarver said. She added that “the strategic and responsible use of technology remains a priority for the City.”

    How Everett got here: a 6-month timeline

    The Everett Flock story has moved quickly through the courts and the Legislature. Here is the sequence of events, drawn from court filings, city statements, and state records:

    • October 2024: Everett launches 68-camera Flock network.
    • February 2026: A Snohomish County Superior Court judge rules that ALPR footage is public record. Everett pauses its network.
    • March 5, 2026: Everett files an appeal of the public records ruling.
    • March 30, 2026: Governor Ferguson signs SB 6002 (the Driver Privacy Act).
    • Early April 2026: Mayor Franklin directs EPD to reactivate cameras.
    • April 3, 2026: Everett files a motion in Superior Court to vacate the February ruling.
    • April 7, 2026: Most of Everett’s cameras are back online.
    • April 22, 2026: The city publicly confirms the reactivation.
    • May 14, 2026: Hearing scheduled on Everett’s motion to vacate.

    The May 14 hearing is the next legal checkpoint. If the court grants the motion to vacate, the February public-records ruling goes away. If it does not, Everett and Flock opponents will continue to argue in court about what, exactly, SB 6002 does to a case that was filed before the law existed.

    The federal data-sharing question

    One detail from the Flock rollout has drawn separate scrutiny. Public records reviewed by reporters showed that from April to June 2025, federal agencies — including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations — queried Everett’s Flock network. The access was possible because Everett, like many departments on the platform, had Flock’s “nationwide lookup” feature enabled until July 2025.

    EPD spokesperson Natalie Given described the feature. “While national look up feature was enabled, outside agencies would have had the ability to query all networks with the feature enabled en masse, including Everett’s,” Given said.

    Former Everett Police Chief John DeRousse confirmed that Flock’s user agreements restrict use to legitimate law enforcement purposes and prohibit civil immigration enforcement and First Amendment-protected activity. Under SB 6002, sharing ALPR data with federal agencies is now legally prohibited — a shift that formalizes what department policies had already required in many cases.

    Where other Washington cities stand

    Everett is not the only Washington city working through the Flock question. Each city has landed in a different place:

    • Mountlake Terrace canceled its Flock contract in December 2025 before the cameras were even installed, citing community division and public-records concerns.
    • Lynnwood terminated its Flock contract in February 2026, roughly seven months after installation, after resident pushback.
    • Stanwood is appealing a similar public-records ruling and reactivated its network on April 1, 2026.
    • Everett reactivated and is pursuing its motion to vacate, with the May 14 hearing as the next step.

    Those four trajectories — cancel, terminate, reactivate-and-appeal, reactivate-and-move — capture the range of policy responses a Washington city can take in the post-SB 6002 environment.

    What this means for Everett residents

    For most residents, the practical changes under SB 6002 are easy to summarize. ALPR data from Everett’s cameras can now be held for no longer than 21 days before deletion. Federal agencies cannot receive Everett’s data. ALPR collection locations near schools and health care facilities are restricted. Public-records requests for raw footage will be refused under the new exemption.

    What the cameras still do: read license plates as vehicles pass, flag plates against hot lists (stolen vehicles, Amber Alerts, felony warrants), and log timestamps and locations that Everett Police can query during an investigation. That operational picture has not changed. The governance around it has.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Are Everett’s Flock cameras back on?

    Yes. The City of Everett confirmed on April 22, 2026 that the cameras have been reactivated. Most of the 68-camera network was back online by April 7, 2026, after Mayor Cassie Franklin directed the Everett Police Department to restart the network in early April.

    What is SB 6002 and why does it matter?

    Senate Bill 6002, also known as the Driver Privacy Act, was signed by Governor Bob Ferguson on March 30, 2026. It exempts ALPR footage from Washington’s Public Records Act, sets a 21-day retention limit, prohibits sharing data with federal agencies, and restricts ALPR collection near schools and health care facilities.

    Why were Everett’s cameras shut off in February?

    A Snohomish County Superior Court judge ruled in February 2026 that Everett’s ALPR footage was a public record under the state Public Records Act. The city paused the network in response to the ruling while it evaluated its legal options.

    How many Flock cameras does Everett operate?

    Everett operates 68 Flock ALPR cameras across the city under a two-year, $550,000 grant-funded contract that was signed in June 2024.

    Can federal immigration agencies access Everett’s ALPR data?

    Under SB 6002, data sharing with federal agencies is now prohibited. Records show that federal agencies queried Everett’s network between April and June 2025 using Flock’s “nationwide lookup” feature, which Everett kept enabled until July 2025. That access is no longer permitted under state law.

    What happens at the May 14 court hearing?

    Snohomish County Superior Court is scheduled to hear Everett’s motion to vacate the February 2026 public-records ruling in light of SB 6002. If the motion is granted, the February ruling goes away. If not, litigation continues.

    How long can Everett Police keep ALPR data under the new law?

    SB 6002 caps retention of ALPR data at 21 days. The ACLU of Washington has said this window is too long and that the original version of the legislation called for 72 hours.

    Have any Washington cities walked away from Flock?

    Yes. Mountlake Terrace canceled its contract in December 2025 before installation. Lynnwood terminated its contract in February 2026. Stanwood and Everett have both reactivated their networks under SB 6002 but are still working through prior legal challenges.

  • Everett EMS Levy Goes to August 2026 Ballot: What the Lid Lift Means

    Everett EMS Levy Goes to August 2026 Ballot: What the Lid Lift Means

    What is Everett’s August 2026 EMS levy ballot measure? On April 22, 2026, the Everett City Council voted to send a property tax levy lid lift to the August 4 primary ballot. If voters approve, the city’s emergency medical services (EMS) levy rate would rise from $0.36 per $1,000 of assessed value back to $0.50 per $1,000 — the rate voters originally approved in 2000. The typical Everett homeowner would pay about $80 more per year. The levy funds roughly 78 firefighter-paramedic positions inside the Everett Fire Department.

    What the Everett City Council actually did on April 22

    On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the Everett City Council voted to place a property tax levy lid lift for emergency medical services on the August 4 primary ballot. The measure would restore the city’s EMS levy rate from its current $0.36 per $1,000 of assessed value back to the $0.50 per $1,000 cap that Everett voters first approved in 2000.

    This is not a new tax. Washington state law limits how fast regular property tax collections can grow — no more than 1% per year, regardless of how fast property values rise. Over time, that 1% ceiling has pushed Everett’s effective EMS rate well below the ceiling voters originally said yes to. A levy lid lift asks voters for permission to reset the rate back up to the original cap.

    How much it costs a typical Everett household

    According to the city, the average Everett homeowner would pay approximately $80 more per year if the measure passes. The exact dollar impact depends on a home’s assessed value, because the rate is applied per $1,000 of assessed value. A home assessed at $500,000, for example, would pay roughly $70 more annually — $250 at the new rate versus $180 at the current rate.

    Renters don’t pay property tax directly, but the cost is typically reflected in rents over time. Commercial property owners also pay the levy and may pass costs along to tenants.

    What the EMS levy actually funds

    The EMS levy is one of the primary funding sources for Everett’s emergency medical services — the ambulance, paramedic, and first-response medical calls handled by the Everett Fire Department. The levy currently supports about 78 positions inside the department, according to city documents presented at the April 22 meeting.

    When residents call 911 for a heart attack, a car crash, a fall, or an overdose, the people who arrive are paid largely through this levy. Everett Fire Department responds to thousands of medical calls per year — the overwhelming majority of its total call volume is medical, not fire.

    Why the levy is on the ballot again

    Everett Fire Chief Dave DeMarco addressed the City Council on April 22 in support of the measure. According to his statement, the EMS fund has remained solvent but call volume has grown and the cost of labor and medical supplies has risen since the last lid lift.

    “The fund has remained solvent throughout this period of extraordinary growth, also a global pandemic and increasing demands for service,” DeMarco told the council. “However, to remain stable and meet the growing emergency medical services needs of our community, the restoration of the levy is necessary.”

    The city notes that call volume at the Everett Fire Department is higher today than it was in 2018, when voters last restored the $0.50 rate. Labor and medical supply costs have also increased in that period.

    Everett’s levy history: 2000, 2010, 2018, 2026

    Everett voters have approved EMS levy lid lifts multiple times over the past 25 years, each time restoring the rate to the $0.50 per $1,000 cap that was originally authorized in 2000. The pattern is consistent:

    • 2000: Everett voters approved a permanent EMS levy at $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.
    • 2010: Voters approved a lid lift restoring the rate to $0.50 after state law had allowed it to drift downward.
    • 2018: Voters approved another lid lift restoring the rate to $0.50.
    • 2026: The current measure, scheduled for the August 4 primary ballot.

    The recurring nature of these votes is a direct consequence of Washington’s 1% property tax cap, which applies to most regular levies statewide and was established by Initiative 747 in 2001.

    What “levy lid lift” means in plain English

    A levy lid lift is a ballot measure that asks voters for permission to raise a regular property tax levy back up to a previously authorized cap. It does not create a new tax. It also does not authorize a rate higher than what voters previously approved.

    Without a lid lift, state law caps year-over-year growth in a regular property tax levy at 1%, even when property values and service costs rise faster than that. For a service like EMS — where labor costs, medical supplies, and call volume all outpace 1% inflation in most years — that ceiling gradually erodes purchasing power. A lid lift is the reset button.

    What happens next

    The measure now heads to the Snohomish County Auditor for placement on the August 4, 2026 primary ballot. Ballots typically mail to registered voters roughly three weeks before election day. A simple majority (50% plus one) of voters in the City of Everett is required for the lid lift to pass.

    If the measure passes, the higher rate would take effect in the 2027 property tax year. If it fails, the current $0.36 rate would remain in place, and the city would face a funding gap inside the EMS fund — a gap that would need to be closed either by reducing EMS service levels, shifting costs to Everett’s general fund (which is already projecting a $14 million gap in 2027), or returning to the ballot with a revised measure.

    How this fits into Everett’s larger 2027 budget picture

    The EMS levy vote does not directly close the city’s projected $14 million 2027 general fund gap, which was outlined at Mayor Cassie Franklin’s 2026 State of the City address. EMS is a separate, voter-approved fund. But the two pictures are connected: if the EMS levy fails, rising medical-response costs could eventually spill over into the general fund, compounding the gap.

    This is the second major voter-facing budget decision Everett has surfaced in 2026. The first was the regional fire authority and library regionalization discussion raised as part of the 2027 budget conversation. The EMS levy is the first of these budget levers to actually reach a ballot.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When will Everett voters decide on the EMS levy?

    The measure is scheduled for the August 4, 2026 primary ballot. Ballots typically mail to registered voters roughly three weeks before election day. A simple majority is required for the measure to pass.

    How much more will I pay if the EMS levy passes?

    The city estimates an average homeowner would pay approximately $80 more per year. The exact amount depends on your home’s assessed value, because the rate is charged per $1,000 of assessed value. The rate would rise from $0.36 to $0.50 per $1,000.

    Is the EMS levy a new tax?

    No. The EMS levy was originally approved by Everett voters in 2000. The 2026 measure is a levy lid lift, which restores the rate back to the cap voters already authorized. It does not create a new tax and does not raise the rate above $0.50 per $1,000.

    What does the EMS levy pay for?

    The levy funds emergency medical services provided by the Everett Fire Department — ambulance, paramedic, and medical first-response calls. The levy currently supports approximately 78 positions inside the department.

    Why is this the third time Everett has voted on the $0.50 rate?

    Washington state law limits regular property tax levy growth to 1% per year, even when costs and property values rise faster. Over time, that cap pushes the effective levy rate below what voters originally approved. A lid lift is required to reset the rate back up to the authorized cap. Everett voters previously approved lid lifts in 2010 and 2018.

    What happens if the EMS levy fails in August?

    The current $0.36 rate would remain in place. The city would face a funding gap inside the EMS fund, which would need to be closed by reducing service levels, shifting costs to the general fund, or returning to the ballot with a revised measure.

    Does this affect the stadium vote or the 2027 budget gap?

    Not directly. EMS is a separate, voter-approved fund and does not close the projected $14 million 2027 general fund gap. But rising medical-response costs could eventually spill over into the general fund if the EMS levy fails.

    Who can vote on the Everett EMS levy?

    Registered voters who live inside the City of Everett are eligible. Voters outside Everett city limits — even elsewhere in Snohomish County — do not vote on this measure.

  • What Everett’s $10.6 Million Stadium Vote on April 29 Means for You as a Resident

    What Everett’s $10.6 Million Stadium Vote on April 29 Means for You as a Resident

    On April 29, 2026, the Everett City Council votes on $10.6 million of stadium funding. The headlines will focus on the teams and the project timeline. If you live in Everett, the question worth asking is narrower and more personal: what does this vote actually do to your city services, your future tax bill, and the ballot measure that eventually decides the whole thing?

    Here’s the resident’s version.

    The vote is about a loan, not a bond

    The $10.6 million on the April 29 agenda is structured as an interfund loan — the city moving money from its general fund (the same account that pays for police, fire, parks, and libraries) into the stadium project fund. The plan is to pay the general fund back when a future stadium bond measure passes.

    There is no new tax on April 29. There is no ballot measure on April 29. There is no outside borrowing on April 29. There is an internal transfer of city cash, with a repayment plan pinned to a later public vote.

    What this means for your property tax bill right now

    Zero change. The interfund loan is not a property tax action. Your 2026 and 2027 property tax bill, as currently structured, is unaffected by the April 29 vote itself.

    What could change your future tax picture is the stadium bond measure that would eventually come to voters. A bond to fund stadium construction would be repaid over time through a dedicated property tax levy. That is a future ballot decision; April 29 is a prerequisite to it, not the same thing.

    What this means for your city services

    This is where it gets real. The general fund pays for the things you notice day-to-day — Everett police response times, fire coverage, park maintenance, library hours, permitting, street work. The city is simultaneously publicly discussing a $14 million structural gap in the 2027 general fund.

    Loaning $10.6 million out of general fund balance in April 2026 does two things at once: it reduces the cushion available against the 2027 gap, and it creates an expectation that a bond sale will repay the loan on a specific future timeline. If the bond passes, the money comes back. If the bond fails or never gets sent to the ballot, the services-side budget absorbs the loss.

    The specific number to keep in mind: $4.8 million

    Council materials identify $4.8 million as the floor loss if the interfund loan is approved but the subsequent bond measure fails. That is general fund money that cannot be recovered, in a year the city is also asking residents to consider new revenue options to close the $14 million gap.

    Whether that risk is acceptable depends on how confident you are that a stadium bond will pass at the ballot box. There is no published polling on the Everett stadium bond yet.

    What Everett residents actually get if the project completes

    A 5,000-seat outdoor event center downtown at Wall Street and Broadway. The Everett AquaSox relocated from Funko Field. Two professional soccer franchises — a men’s team and a women’s team — in the United Soccer League. Year-round concerts and events. Teams are committing $17 million upfront and roughly $100 million in 30-year lease payments. The city would staff one stadium-operations employee; the teams run day-to-day operations.

    Mayor Cassie Franklin has framed this as a lean operating model that uses private operating capability to monetize city-owned real estate.

    The future ballot timing, as best we know it

    The city has not yet scheduled the bond measure that would repay the interfund loan. Based on the project timeline, a bond measure at a 2026 or 2027 general election is a realistic window. Residents can watch for the specific ballot language and timing to be set by council resolution.

    If you want to know when your vote actually counts for this project, it’s on that bond measure, not on April 29. The April 29 vote is a council-only decision.

    How to participate before the April 29 vote

    Public comment at Everett City Council meetings is open to residents. The council meets at 6:30 p.m. at Everett City Hall, 2930 Wetmore Avenue. You can sign up to speak, submit written comment, or watch the livestream on the city website.

    If you care about this vote, the most useful use of three minutes at the microphone is on the specific question in front of the council: is the $10.6 million interfund loan an acceptable general-fund risk given the 2027 budget gap?

    Related Exploring Everett coverage

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Will my Everett property taxes go up because of the April 29 stadium vote?

    Not from the April 29 vote itself. It is an interfund loan, not a tax action. Your tax picture could change if a future stadium bond measure passes — but that is a separate, later ballot decision.

    Can I vote on the April 29 stadium decision?

    No. The April 29 decision is a City Council vote, not a ballot measure. You can provide public comment at the council meeting.

    What happens to the $10.6 million if the stadium doesn’t get built?

    If the subsequent bond measure fails, the city loses at least $4.8 million of general fund money that cannot be recovered, per council materials.

    Does the interfund loan affect the 2027 budget gap?

    It reduces the general fund balance available as a cushion against the $14 million 2027 structural gap. It does not directly cause the gap — that is a revenue-versus-expenses structural issue — but it changes the city’s reserve position.

    How do I comment on the stadium vote?

    Attend the April 29 council meeting at Everett City Hall, 2930 Wetmore Avenue, 6:30 p.m., or submit written public comment through the city’s website before the meeting.


  • Everett’s $10.6 Million Interfund Loan for the Downtown Stadium: The Complete 2026 Guide to the Mechanism, the Vote, and the Risk

    Everett’s $10.6 Million Interfund Loan for the Downtown Stadium: The Complete 2026 Guide to the Mechanism, the Vote, and the Risk

    Quick answer: On April 29, 2026, the Everett City Council votes on a $10.6 million funding package for downtown stadium design completion and property acquisition, structured as an interfund loan from the city’s general fund balance. The loan is planned to be repaid when the city passes a future stadium bond measure — projected north of $40 million — to fund construction. If the council approves the loan but voters later reject the bond, the city would face the loss of at least $4.8 million in general fund dollars that cannot be recovered.

    The interfund loan is the least-understood part of the Everett stadium conversation, but it is the mechanism that ties every other piece together: the $7.2 million already spent, the $120 million total projected cost, the teams’ $17 million upfront commitment, and the city’s ongoing $14 million 2027 budget gap.

    Here is the plain-language breakdown.

    What an interfund loan is, in one paragraph

    An interfund loan moves cash between accounts the city already owns. Everett’s general fund — the main operating account that pays for police, fire, parks, and general government — is one account. The stadium project fund is another. When the council authorizes an interfund loan, it transfers cash from the general fund balance to the stadium fund with the expectation that a specific future revenue source (in this case, a bond sale) will pay the general fund back.

    What the money is not: not a grant, not a new tax, not external borrowing from the public bond market. It is existing city cash being lent from one pocket to another, with a plan for repayment.

    The April 29 vote, in structure

    The $10.6 million would fund two activities:

    Stadium design completion. The Outdoor Event Center — the formal name of the project — requires a completed design package before construction bidding can begin. The design translates the 5,000-seat concept, artificial turf field, clubhouse/event space, and walking perimeter into construction documents detailed enough to price and build.

    Property acquisition. The site requires 15 parcels. Council materials indicate the city has signed purchase agreements on two parcels, has pending agreements on four more, and is in active negotiations with the owners of eight others. The main entrance to the completed facility is planned at Wall Street and Broadway.

    How the loan gets repaid

    Repayment is tied to a future stadium bond measure. The project’s total projected cost has risen from $82 million in June 2025 to $120 million as of January 2026. The city has telegraphed a general obligation bond in the range of $40 million or more as the primary construction funding vehicle. When that bond sells, the general fund gets paid back.

    The team-side revenue commitments sit on top of that structure. The three teams expected to call the stadium home — the Everett AquaSox, plus men’s and women’s United Soccer League franchises — have committed $17 million upfront and roughly $100 million in 30-year lease payments. Under the lease structure, the city would need to staff only one employee to oversee stadium operations.

    The risk no one is talking about loudly

    If the council approves the $10.6 million interfund loan and the city later fails to pass the bond that repays it — either because the council doesn’t send a bond to the ballot, or voters reject it — the city loses the general fund dollars that have already been spent.

    The specific number being cited in council materials as the floor loss is $4.8 million. That figure represents a meaningful portion of general fund reserves in a year when the city is also publicly discussing a $14 million 2027 budget gap.

    How the stadium connects to the $14M 2027 budget gap

    The city’s four-lever 2027 budget decision and the stadium interfund loan are not the same conversation, but they draw from the same fund. General fund balance that is loaned to the stadium fund is balance that cannot simultaneously sit as cushion against the 2027 structural gap.

    Council members asking questions at the April 29 hearing are expected to press this point: is the city comfortable lending $10.6 million from the general fund in the same calendar year it is also telling residents the general fund structurally under-collects by $14 million?

    What the city has spent to date

    Approximately $7.2 million in capital funds has already been spent on the stadium project. Adding the $10.6 million request would bring cumulative pre-construction city spending to roughly $17.8 million. The cumulative tally matters because it sets the floor for any future “what did we spend and what did we get for it” conversation if the bond measure fails.

    Who’s on the other side of the table

    The three sports tenants — AquaSox, men’s USL, women’s USL — bring $17 million in upfront commitments and roughly $100 million in 30-year lease payments. Mayor Cassie Franklin has publicly framed the one-employee city staffing structure as a lean-operation advantage: the teams run day-to-day operations; the city holds the real estate and collects lease revenue.

    For residents evaluating the deal, the key question is whether the combined team commitments, bond proceeds, and lease stream cover the $120 million projected total cost on a timeline the city can responsibly absorb.

    How to watch the April 29 vote

    The Everett City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. at Everett City Hall, 2930 Wetmore Avenue. Meetings are livestreamed on the city website. The April 29 agenda item is the $10.6 million interfund loan authorization; the broader stadium bond measure is a separate, later decision.

    Related Exploring Everett coverage

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is an interfund loan in simple terms?

    It is the city moving cash between accounts it already owns. General fund balance is transferred to the stadium project fund, with the expectation that a future revenue source — typically a bond sale — repays it.

    Is an interfund loan the same as borrowing money from the public?

    No. It is internal to the city. No external bond buyers are involved in the interfund transfer itself. A later public bond sale is what repays the interfund loan.

    What happens if the council approves the loan but voters reject the stadium bond?

    The city would lose at least $4.8 million in general fund dollars that cannot be recovered. That is the floor loss cited in council materials.

    How much has Everett already spent on the stadium?

    Approximately $7.2 million in capital funds as of the April 29, 2026 vote. Approving the $10.6 million loan would bring cumulative pre-construction spending to roughly $17.8 million.

    What is the total projected cost of the Everett stadium?

    $120 million as of January 2026, up from $82 million in June 2025.

    Who are the stadium tenants?

    The Everett AquaSox, a men’s United Soccer League franchise, and a women’s USL franchise have committed $17 million upfront and roughly $100 million in 30-year lease payments.

    Where is the stadium being built?

    Downtown Everett. The main entrance is planned at Wall Street and Broadway, requiring acquisition of 15 parcels.

    When does Everett vote on the interfund loan?

    April 29, 2026, at the regular Everett City Council meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Everett City Hall, 2930 Wetmore Avenue.