Everett considering 6% utility tax increase

EVERETT — The city of Everett is officially considering a utility tax increase that, if approved, would increase water and sewer rates for the hundreds of thousands of people that use the Everett’s utility services across Snohomish County.

In exchange, it would also make significant progress toward closing a projected $15 million deficit in the city’s 2027 general fund budget.

The passage of the tax would come with an increase in utility rates. That’s because the tax is levied on the utility itself — not individual ratepayers — but the utility would need to raise rates in order to cover the cost of the tax.

It would replace a current 6% “payment in lieu of taxes” fee — which is essentially identical to a tax, city finance director Mike Bailey previously said — with a 12% utility tax, amounting to a 6% increase.

https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/05/14/everett-considering-6-utility-tax-increase/