Executive Somers Recommends Budget to Sustain Foundational Services Through Strategic Cuts & Revenue

Contact:

Kari Bray
[email protected]
425-339-5223

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., September 1, 2026 – Executive Dave Somers presented his proposed 2027-28 biennial budget to the Snohomish County Council Tuesday afternoon.

In his tenth budget address as Executive, Somers called on his fellow county leaders to pull together during a fiscally challenging time and to focus on how the vital services of county government work together. He submitted a recommended budget that sustains these services through carefully considered cuts, intentional changes in how the county works, and a thoughtful approach to new revenue.

“We cannot make this budget about silos and pitting people against each other,” he said. “We must focus on strategic decisions to serve the entire county.”

This is Snohomish County’s second biennial budget. The proposed budget including all funds is $3.37 billion total for the next two years, and the proposed General Fund budget is $786.6 million. The majority of County funds are obligated for specific purposes based on how the revenue is legislated or based on grant or contract terms. The general fund is the County’s most flexible funding source and serves as the backstop for everything else.

Snohomish County, like many other public agencies, is facing multiple financial pressures including rapid inflation, an ongoing structural deficit, limited revenue tools available to counties under state law, and federal funding uncertainty. Previously, the County Council has opted not to take all available revenue from the county’s banked capacity on its property tax levy, widening the gap between the cost of providing services and the amount of revenue available to cover those costs.

“The deficit in our budget did not emerge in a single budget cycle. We know we can’t resolve it in a single cycle, either,” Somers said. “We need strategies that balance smart spending reductions and responsible new revenue. We also need time, and this two-year budget is designed to ensure Snohomish County can continue serving public needs.”

Somers has proposed a budget that:

Reduces spending by about $22 million in the coming biennium. Those spending reductions are accomplished through a mix of cuts and realignments of county work. The recommended budget eliminates 11 filled positions and 79 vacant positions. Employees impacted by those layoffs have been notified, and the decision to cut vacant positions helped prevent additional layoffs.
Invests in law and justice with revenue from the Justice Fund sales tax, a one-tenth of one-percent sales tax that was proposed by Executive Somers and approved by the County Council in August. That is expected to generate more than $20 million a year for law and justice services, including criminal and civil proceedings, many of which are provided only by Snohomish County for all county residents.
Preserves infrastructure by ensuring the county can continue providing local matching dollars to unlock more than $66 million in external funding for road and bridge projects, and by investing in a facilities study to create an updated, in-depth plan for maintaining existing county buildings and properties.
Makes strategic use of revenue options, including the allowable one-percent property tax levy increase under state law, use of the county’s remaining banked capacity from past years when the increase was not taken, and adjusting to new state requirements setting new minimums on existing levies for veterans, mental health, and developmental disabilities services. All total, using these revenue options would result in taxpayers paying approximately $41 more per year on property taxes for an average-valued home of $741,000.
Reflects the priorities of the community that were shared in multiple outreach and engagement efforts over the last year, starting with the Fiscal Sustainability Task Force in late 2025 and continuing through the summer of 2026 with a community engagement process that presented to and sought input from more than 500 residents representing a wide mix of interests and expertise.

Now, the budget moves on to the County Council for deliberation and public hearings. The Council has set a Community Budget Forum for 6 p.m. on October 7. Typically, the Council votes on a budget by the end of November.

“I’m grateful to the Executive and his team, as well as our independently elected leaders, for the work that went into developing this recommended budget,” Snohomish County Council Chair Megan Dunn said. “As Council begins our review, I look forward to leading a thoughtful and transparent process that recognizes both the services our communities rely on and the real affordability pressures facing families across Snohomish County. I encourage residents to stay informed and make their voices heard through our community forums and public hearings. Our final budget should reflect our community’s priorities, responsibly steward public dollars, and deliver for the people we serve.”

People can learn more about the budget at www.snohomishcountywa.gov/budget, and the full budget address is available to watch online on Snohomish County Television.

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