Many folks have likely seen my post regarding Everett's Proposition 1 Levy on your August 6 Ballot.
Voters in Everett and outside of Everett may be confused because, surprise, they might have two OTHER Prop 1s on their ballot depending on where they live in Snohomish County. Since Everett is the home of the County seat, many people living outside of the City notice Everett's Proposition 1 and conflate it with levy requests on their ballots.
I want to help explain what's happening and give some insight, along with my salty commentary.
Let's first get this out of the way. The two other Propositions 1 are:
South County Fire Proposition 1, where Snohomish County Fire is asking Mill Creek residents to consider annexing to the South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Regional Fire Authority. More details are on Mill Creek's website here. Mill Creek would still have their fire department, but staff would be employed by South County Fire. The current taxes Mill Creek residents pay the City of Mill Creek for fire service would transition to the South County Fire District. I won't claim to know all the benefits or drawbacks of Proposition 1, but it may help streamline services, improve fire response times, and will not result in any staff cuts. Both agencies are currently hiring.
Port of Everett's Proposition 1 is a boundary expansion. The Port District currently covers most of the cities of Everett, Mukilteo, and portions of unincorporated Snohomish County. Everett and some Mukilteo residents pay 18.8 cents per $1,000 to help fund the Port of Everett's efforts. It is the lowest property tax of any jurisdiction in the County, and they are asking for the rest of the County, aside from Edmonds, which has its own port, to participate. This allows the Port of Everett to grow and make investments and infrastructure improvements in other parts of Snohomish County. Snohomish County residents already benefit from their existing efforts, such as waterfront access, economic opportunities, trade, etc. The Port of Everett is also the home to the U.S. Naval Fleet and is one of the 18 Strategic Commercial Seaports nationwide. It's fantastic that one is in Snohomish County, so you can imagine what the Port of Everett could do if more people participated in its tax base. They are asking folks to join Everett and Mukilteo residents by pitching in and helping support growth and future investment for the Port and the entire County. Do what you will with that information and learn more here.
If you're in Mill Creek, you're likely to see two Proposition 1s on the ballot. This may also be the case for other cities with their own propositions. If you're outside Everett, you'll see the one for the Port of Everett.
Yes, it is confusing that they are all Proposition 1s, but it helps to understand if you read the description and what is being asked.
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Now to the City of Everett.
The City of Everett's Proposition 1 is only on Everett voters' ballots. This proposition asks voters to increase the property values the City can collect from voters from $1.51 per $1000 of assessed property to $2.19. This is a 67-cent increase or, as the opponents describe it, a whopping 44%.
I will use my property here in Everett to illustrate what this means to people like me. We were lucky to purchase our home for $240,000 in late 2014, thanks to President Obama's First-Time Homebuyer Program. We took out some loans for home improvements and now have a total mortgage of $350,000.
In 2023, my property was assessed at $484,600, and I paid the following taxes:
Here in Everett, I am paying .16 per thousand for Sound Transit's Light Rail, and I cannot wait for it to arrive. This must also be exciting for all the folks in Marysville and other neighboring communities who don't pay this tax but will most definitely use Light Rail whenever they attend Mariner's, Kraken, and Seahawks games.
We're paying less than the cost of the nose-bleed section at a Seahawks game to make that happen for you. You're welcome.
The other taxes are for the City of Everett, Everett School District, Port of Everett, Snohomish County, and the State of Washington.
I'm proud, as a millennial, to contribute $2,244.68 a year, calculated into my low-interest mortgage rate, to support my state, county, city, and educational institutions and the development of my port and transportation system. I'm glad our state has options for seniors and others living on a fixed income to receive a property tax deferral or exemption based on their income. Check it out and see if you qualify. Applying is easy.
Here's the math for Everett's Proposition 1 and how it directly impacts me:
This year's assessment of my home for taxes payable in 2025 is $492,600. Yay, my property value went up $8,000!
492,600/1000 = 492.6 (total 1000s)
492.6 X 2.19 (new rate) = $1,078
$1,078 (new rate) - $919.2424 (old rate) = $159 more in yearly taxes or less than $15 monthly.
Now, if you're a renter, you don't receive a copy of your assessed value, but you can look it up, as well as any other property you're interested in on the county's website here.
Some landlords and wealthy property owners may not like this because they will have to pay this on the many properties they own and from which they receive passive income. They will also say that costs for their renters will increase because they must pay higher property taxes.
My partner and I are lucky because we secured a low interest rate and now pay about $2,200 on our monthly home mortgage. If we decided to rent our home, we would likely charge $3,000 for rent to help cover the cost of the mortgage and things we may need to fix on this 125-year-old home and to have some passive income from owning and managing the property. The critical point here is that we own property. We have an asset that we can sell and make money from in the short term through renting and in the long term through selling. The folks telling you to vote against Proposition 1 have even greater financial opportunities than me and most people in Everett.
If I had an 18-month lease with a renter, I could not change any aspect of the lease during that fixed-term period except by mutual agreement with my renter. It's also unlikely I would nickel and dime my renter with a $15 monthly increase. Some landlords may, but that means the person or family renting the Everett home, who is benefiting from the services Everett provides, would also be participating and contributing to the City's needs.
If you're a renter and have a long-term lease, you likely won't see this increase for some time, and perhaps by then, you'll move. Rent is calculated not only based on mortgage costs and maintenance but also on market value and what renters are willing to pay. Even if your landlord is paying what they deem "astronomical" property taxes, they will decrease OR increase the rent based on whatever makes someone rent their home or apartment, allowing them to collect more passive income.
I looked up one of my wealthy acquaintances who lives in Everett's Port Gardner Neighborhood near the Rucker Mansion. Their assessed property value was slightly less than $1 million in 2023 and is likely now above $1 million. I don't know their new value, but they would be paying $2,143 or another $286 more if their property value stayed the same.
This person has been a lead proponent against the levy, joining a chorus of other wealthy property owners who claim that it would disproportionately impact the working class. Ma'am, I am the working class, and I've seen you barely bat an eye as you drop more than $300 on a sweater.
Remember, the assessed value is not how much your home will sell for. Homes like mine in the Delta Neighborhood are selling with initial asking prices of $500,000 - $600,000, well above our assessed property values.
The City of Everett's budget includes Fire, Police, Libraries, Public Works, Parks, and Community Services like the Animal Shelter. Every year, their costs have gone up like ours. Once valued at $600,000, fire trucks are now $1.2 million. City insurance costs have gone up exorbitantly due to what insurance companies are charging for the risk of natural disasters not only across Washington State but the entire country.
I'm okay paying an extra $159 more a year or less than $15 a month to ensure our fire department can afford that $1.2 million truck, that our libraries open more hours, that our animal shelter responds to our needs, and that all the City of Everett employees—from our police department to our economic development department—can keep doing what they're doing.
If your argument against the levy is that you don't want to pay your fair share of the cost to run a city, then fine. Say that, but don't try to create or design a false narrative that allows you to justify it. And don't expect more–expect a lot less from a city already running on empty that will have to make further cuts to the staff, services, and infrastructure you depend on. If this doesn't pass, and I'm concerned it won't, and in 2025, budgets have been further slashed, and they try to blame the current Mayor and Council, remember that.
So, why are these people, with wealth far beyond the majority of most Everettonians, so concerned about paying an extra $23 a month? And why do they pretend their concern is about the working-class?
It's because there is a lot more to this story…
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On August 2, the Everett Herald released an article titled, "Real estate interests raise $27K to fight Everett property tax hike," it mentions the group "Keep Everett Affordable." I wrote about its financial contributors in my last blog post, but as stated in the Herald story, it includes: "Arthur Skotdal, the retired head of the eponymous Skotdal Real Estate empire, local developer Martin Robinett and Everett Avenue HMB, a limited liability company led by coffee heir Howard Bargreen. And Jim Langus, former chief administrative assistant to two Everett mayors, who pitched in $2,500."
Believe me, these folks would contribute more if they thought it necessary.
The story also highlights a quote from Michael Swanson: "I was blown away at the lack of clarity and commitments with what the City would actually do with the money if passed."
I was at two of three of these meetings, and I remember this guy. He and two other attendees were not interested in what city staff and leaders had to say or share. In fact, you could tell they were there to be antagonists. They were there to interupt and disregard everything non-partisan staff said at all costs. They had their script, and they knew their charge at this meeting. Meanwhile, the City was an open book. They shared everything, from how the budget works and the cost-saving mechanisms they have deployed, from technology improvements and health care premiums, to what they hope to do if the levy passes–from adding social workers at the police department and looking for partnerships to reopen the public pool and restoring previously cut library hours. Anything you want to know, as well as their detailed public presentation can be found here.
No, the City of Everett is not asking us to pay for more extravagant projects; they are asking us to pay for what we already have. And frankly, I would like them to ask for more.
Swanson served on the Everett Public Facilities District's board and as treasurer for Mayor Cassie Franklin's last campaign.
So, what happened to that relationship? Is he concerned about these taxes, or is he friendly with 2025 Mayor Candidate Scott Murphy?
Some background
In 2015, then-Council member Franklin was running for Mayor against Councilmember Judy Tuohy and Brian Sullivan who is now our County Treasurer and previously served on the Mukilteo City Council and as Mayor of Mukilteo.
At the time, local Democrats immediately endorsed Sullivan for Mayor and dismissed councilmember Franklin and Touhy, who had equal, if not more, experience in government, non-profit, and business and were, by all accounts, Democrats.
In a shocking August primary election, Franklin and Touhy were the top two vote-getters, and they advanced to the general election.
By this time, Franklin was looking for support from other groups. She received support from the same wealthy property owners behind the Keep Everett Affordable Political Action Committee, who likely believed Sullivan threatened their wealth and status.
The Democrats, being pissed off about where Franklin was getting her support, opted to now endorse Touhy for the general.
There was also this horrible ad, paid for by Mr. Langus, that said, "Judy Doesn't Know." This was pulled from her responses to the Everett Herald Editorial Board interview, where she started nearly every sentence with "I don't know."
Cassie Franklin barely won that Mayoral election with 44.65% of the vote, compared to Touhy's 43.53%.
It's also surprising that in 2022, when I reluctantly helped Tuohy's campaign, Jim Langus was included on the committee. When I discussed how to position Tuohy's problematic no vote on the ordinance requiring negotiations with workers and companies contracted for public works construction projects over $5 million, Langus scoffed and said it wasn't an issue people cared about.
So, it's funny that his friends are quoted in the article as saying Mayor Franklin's veto of the ordinance was "unacceptable" when this is exactly what they wanted from both the Mayor and Councilmember Tuohy, who joined the Mayor in voting no.
Langus capitalized on my past comment for his current political team. Isn't it great when you can tell lies because no one knows the truth? But I can't blame him for recognizing intelligence where it exists.
You may be asking, "Why are they suddenly against Mayor Franklin when they have supported her in the past?"
Oh, that's because of two things. First, Franklin wasn't as friendly as these dudes hoped she'd be regarding their efforts and requests of her. Sometimes, she was with them on an issue, sometimes not, which is what you want from an elected leader–not to be bought off.
She also had relations with her Deputy Mayor, and these white dudes didn't like that. So, they found their next best candidate: Trust-fund baby and part-owner of Goldfinch Glass, who makes nearly $1 million a year, Scott Murphy.
Murphy was an Everett City Councilmember from January 2013 through December 2021 where he served four years under Mayor Ray Stephanson who retired in 2017. A 2001 story from the Tribune highlighted how the City has repeatedly solved past gaps by tightening its belt. "Even prior to Mayor Cassie Franklin's election, her predecessor Mayor Ray Stephanson characterized that there wasn't much left to cut."
In 2021, Mr. Murphy opted to run for Port Commissioner when he saw the writing on the wall with the City of Everett moving to voting districts, hindering him from using his wealth to retain his city council seat. He lost to David Simpson with 40.97% of the vote.
But he's back, and he's ready to help his good-old-Everett-boys club regain control of the City by burning it down.
Mayor Franklin got it right when she said in the same article that she believes their intention is for this to fail, forcing her and the City Council to make even more unpopular cuts to city government. Then, use that against her when Murphy runs against her for Mayor in 2025.
Feel what you want about Mayor Franklin and her personal decisions, but there was no misuse of public funds, just some middle school dating behavior that makes me squirm whenever I think about it. Regardless of how you feel about her, the rich men (and women who hate her) want her out, and they will stop at nothing to do it, including bankrupting the City and bringing chaos to everyone who calls this place home.
And they can't go after police or fire because God forbid, we go after our first responders. People would hate that. Instead, they go after departments primarily run by women. Departments that, together, represent just 4% of the City's general budget. These are departments that have consolidated. Not grown, as the opponents claim. These departments are responsible for our economic development, beloved events, parks, and libraries. Departments that are working their ass off along with other departments to make Everett more than a city of police going after crime and firefighters fighting fires.
All the things that build community and grow our economy will be cut first, and then we'll proceed from there.
President Ben Zarlingo stated it correctly when he said highlighting the human resources and administrative budget is a "misdirection." He explained that to point to individual, small things without pointing to anything over $10 or $15 million (police, fire, public works) doesn't solve the problem.
These people don't want to solve a problem. They want to confuse you and position themselves to take over in 2025.
These rich assholes don't care if there is no 4th of July Celebration; they'll be celebrating all the "riffraff" no longer infringing on their quiet, wealthy white neighborhood that day.
They don't care if we never have a public pool again. They go on their boats, jump in their private pools, or leave for Arizona and Palm Springs.
They won't notice the Animal Shelter is closed. They purchased their $8,000 purebred French Bulldog during the pandemic.
They don't need a library; they can afford their own books and a vast library to store them in.
These people don't flinch at a $1000 restaurant bill while they make money on their numerous properties. Meanwhile, they tell you to be concerned about paying an extra $20 a month to maintain your fire, police, and quality-of-life amenities.
How do so few people see that this is just one example of the 1% working to get even richer while using their already excessive wealth to spread even more lies to keep the poor poorer? I'm not disgusted with people's wealth, but I am disgusted by their goddamn, blatant, and unapologetic vile use of it.
And if you read the August 4 article, "Proposed Everett tax increases spark controversy," you can see right through them.
"The City is not willing to make cuts," Swanson says. "The city has made no commitments about what services it would bring back with the revenue" (It has). "A rejection from voters would force the city to put everything on the table again and think about cuts."
No, Mayor Franklin doesn't want to make more cuts, which is why she, along with most of the Council, is asking voters to contribute what it's worth to run the City.
"Every single department that our residence experience would be impacted," Franklin said, and the exact cuts are "not a decision that I alone could make or would make."
I'm over this.
I'm absolutely done with this bullshit. I'm done knowing that rich assholes are sitting on Zoom calls strategizing about how to manipulate the public for their personal gain. I'm done with them using their extravagant wealth to capitalize on and fool those with far less money and much more to lose when services get cut. I'm done with them trying to harm the City I call home. A city I want to see succeed.
Don't let these people bankrupt our community and all the positive strides it has made. We have one of the state's highest crime rates and cannot afford to strip Everett of all that is good and moving us toward addressing that.
If this angers you, vote by 8 p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, August 6. Washington voters have until 8 p.m. on election day to register to vote or update registration information in person at a voting center or county. Learn more at VoteWa.Gov or Snohomish County Elections.
And however you vote, don't let the wealthy buy you this election.
Big Money, Slashed Budgets, Good-Old-Boys, and a Pinch of Salt.
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