In late September, Executive Dave Somers provided his 2024 Proposed Budget Address and over these past few weeks council has been diligently reviewing this proposal. I’m glad to see that the proposed budget includes commitments to addressing addiction and behavioral health, protecting the environment, and increasing public safety by confronting the underlying issues.
The county works hard to make our budget and budget process as transparent and accessible as possible. There is an interactive Budget Dashboard Webpage where you can search department budgets by year, type, revenues, expenditures, and see how each department’s budget totals in comparison to other departments. There are also several ways that you can provide input:
The county’s revenue is largely generated from sales tax and property taxes. Our area’s sales tax is 10.5%, or $10.50 on a $100 purchase. Of the $10.50 collected, about $1.40 goes to the county for services, criminal justice, mental health, emergency radio systems, and homelessness. The other $9.10 of that $100 purchase goes to the the city you made the purchase (if the point of sale is within an incorporated city), Washington State, Community Transit/Everett Transit, and the Regional Transit Authority. Property tax rates vary across taxing districts like school districts and fire districts, but generally speaking, about 10% of your property tax goes to fund county services and roads. The other portion of your property taxes fund schools (63%), cities and towns (8%), Fire Districts (11%), and Libraries, Hospitals, Ports & Parks (5%). The County Assessor’s Office has a dashboard where you can look up your property to get more accurate information on how your property taxes are distributed.
The Public Hearing Special Meeting to consider and approve the 2024 Annual Budget is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, at 10:30 a.m.
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Council Receiving the Proposed Budget from Executive Somers |
This was my third year participating in Disability Rights Washington’s Week Without Driving campaign and it was another great reminder of the importance of a transportation system that works well for people of all abilities and preferred modes of mobility. Week Without Driving is a week-long challenge sponsored by Disability Rights Washington where participants are asked to travel to their appointments and obligations by any means except personally driving a vehicle. I live near bus lines for Everett Transit and Community Transit, but even with walking access to a bus as a starting point for travels, it took extensive planning to make sure I could make it to appointments in time. I also had to ask people to work around the bus schedule or pick me up for appointments and there was one meeting in Seattle that would have taken me over 4 hours of travel round trip, so I joined remotely. I was privileged to be able to work remotely and to ask family members to drive me but not everyone has that option. There were also times that I didn’t feel safe taking the bus during late hours. Many thanks to Disability Rights Washington for their hard work to put on this event and to bring awareness to barriers in our transportations system for people who don’t or can’t drive.
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Riding Community Transit's Blue Line on my way home from appointments |
On Thursday, October 26, from 6:15-8:15, a group of local organizations is hosting An Educational Form on the Rise and Dangers of White Supremacy at the Everett Civic Auditorium (Everett High School’s theater) featuring author David Neiwert. Washington State ranks fifth in the nation for white supremist activity and groups, and Snohomish County ranks first in our state. My office has been working to facilitate meetings with a local group called Communities Against Hate and Violent Extremism to discuss how we can bring awareness and action to address this issue. Awareness begins with accurate information, and I hope you can join this event. It is free and open to the public.
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and in light of this important cause, my office worked with representatives from VOAWW to organize a tour of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Center for local area elected and community leaders. Though the call center is located in Everett, it fields calls, texts, and online messages from across Washington State, except for King County and Spokane County which is served by partnering organizations. The 988 call line replaces the former National Suicide Hotline with the hope that a person in distress will be able to reach out for help because they can more easily remember “988” instead of the lengthy 1-800 number.
The Volunteers of America Western Washington operate this center and have done great work over the past year to expand how they offer services. They now accept text messages and online chat messages in addition to phone calls. They also have trained specialists who can better relate with people contacting the center who are veterans, speak Spanish as their preferred language, identify as a LGBTQIA+ youth, or are indigenous.
If you are experiencing a crisis, or if you are concerned about a loved one who may be in distress, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with people at the 988 Crisis Call Center for help. No crisis is too big or too small. Please know that you are not alone and help is only a phone call or message away.
The Everett Animal Shelter recently shared that they are at their maximum capacity for housing cats at a total of 125 cats ready for a new home. The shelter asks that if a lost cat crosses your path (even a black cat!) and it appears to be healthy and curse-free, please consider bringing it into your own home and helping to rehome it instead of taking it to the shelter. The shelter is also asking for donations of cat food to help provide care to so many animals. This Facebook post has more information on ways you can help, and if your haunted household is considering adopting, please book an appointment today.
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The Evergreen State Fairgrounds recently opened a covered judging area for a winter dog park. Your little Cujo is welcome to join between dawn to dusk through February 29 at Judging Area #606 near the Event Center, but is closed for holidays. People can park in the Yellow Parking Lot and take the quick walk to the area. Please keep your werewolf leashed anytime you’re outside of the play area, and please pick up after your pet.
Calling all mad scientists: the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council is seeking public comment on the draft Transportation Electrification Strategy. This document is intended to ensure elec-trick vehicle incentives and infrastructure are available and accessible to everyone in Washington. Comments are due by October 30.
The Port of Everett and City of Mukilteo are hosting an open house on November 1 from 4-7p at the Rosehill Community Center to share renderings and development plans for the Mukilteo Waterfront Development project. The Port of Everett is working to redevelop the Mukilteo waterfront and the area under consideration stretches from Mukilteo’s Lighthouse Park to Edgewater Beach. Preliminary designs include a promenade with mixed-use developments and will be a joint effort with local landowners and
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I recently attended the Meadowdale Beach Park ribbon cutting to celebrate the incredible restoration project that was recently completed. When the Burlington Northern Train Line was established early last century much of the Lunds Gulch Creek was hampered by the embankment for the tracks which narrowed the waterway to a small 6-foot wide culvert that drained to Puget Sound. This choke point made it difficult for the public to access the shoreline and also disrupted the natural functions of the estuary and salmon run. Construction began in 2021 and was recently completed to reestablish a 1.3 acre estuary, 100-foot opening under the railroad tracks to allow for ADA accessibility to the beach, and install park features. Please take a few minutes to watch this great video from our Department of Conservation and Natural Resources showing a time-lapse of the project and the careful construction that it entailed, and also this story map page from our Surface Water Management team has more information and before/after pictures.
Many thanks to the funding and construction partners and staff that made this project possible.
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With Senator Cantwell, Misty Napeahi with Tulalip Tribes, Executive Somers, Councilmembers Nehring and Peterson, and Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources staff at the ribbon cutting |
The county’s Adopt-A-Road program has enjoyed considerable growth over the past couple of years. Adopt-A-Road has grown to 37 active groups with two pending adoptions and 12 sections in need of sponsors. District 2 has eight Adopt-A-Road segments, but only one is available for adoption which runs along Marine Drive NE from 14th Ave NE to 7th Drive NW in the Tulalip area. The program forms invaluable partnerships between volunteer groups and Public Works to keep roadsides free of litter and promote community pride. To learn more about Adopt-A-Road or to sign up, please click here.
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Marine Drive NE from 14th Ave NE to 7th Drive NW is available for adoption! |
Our region recently experienced a mild earthquake, and while no damage was reported, it’s a reminder of how important it is that we are all prepared for “The Big One.” October is Earthquake Preparedness Month and Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management is prepared to respond in this event. DEM has informational resources available to community members so that they can be prepared too. They recently published this Megaquake Population Islands map showing how communities might possibly become isolated after an earthquake due to land liquefaction, fallen bridges, roadway debris, or other barriers that may make it impossible to cross roadways and other boundaries. Please take a look to see how your surrounding area may be affected, and also take an opportunity to review your emergency supplies and restock your emergency kit.
In the event of a mass catastrophe like a massive earthquake or zombie apocalypse, I’m grateful for the hard work of organizations like Bloodworks Northwest who work hard to keep our blood banks stocked. I recently donated blood and was glad to do my part to help. Bloodworks also takes more than just blood donations – people can donate platelets, plasma, super red cells, cord blood, or financial contributions to further their mission. Please check out their website today for donation centers or where you can catch their mobile blood bank van.
Bats Overhead! and All About Bats presentations are coming to the Everett Public Library main library location on Thursday, November 2. First is the Bats Overhead! event geared towards kids aged 5-10 years old and includes bat stories and crafts. At 6p, there will be an All About Bats presentation and Q&A for all ages. Both events are presented by Bats Northwest.
The Downtown Everett Association is again hosting a downtown Everett Trick-Or-Treat event for Saturday, October 28, from 12-5p. The number of businesses participating this fear has expanded. Please keep an eye on the Facebook event page for more information and for the walk map when it comes available.
Not to be left out of the hocus pocus, The City of Mukilteo is hosting their annual Boo Bash on October 29 from 2-5p at Rosehill Community Center. There will be interactive exhibits from the Pacific Science Center, face painting, a photo booth, activities, paint ‘n take pumpkins, and, of course, candy! The first 500 guests will receive a custom Boo Bag as well.
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