Sales tax to increase in parts of Snohomish County to highest in state
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. -- The sales tax in parts of Snohomish County will soon be the highest in the state.
Mill Creek and a couple of other cities will pay nearly 10 percent in sales tax to help to pay for improved bus service for Community Transit.
Mill Creek resident Louie Betancourt is already working hard to provide for his family.
He said having a higher sales tax will makes things tougher.
“Honestly, I don’t like it all. You know it all adds up. Especially at 10 cents to the dollar it’s going to add up real quick with three children, my wife and myself,” said Betancourt.
The higher sales tax kicks in on April 1.
People in Edmonds, Mukilteo, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Brier and north Bothell will pay 9.8 percent in sales tax, up from the current 9.5 percent.
Meanwhile, people in Mill Creek will pay the highest tax at 9.9 percent.
The increase in Mill Creek comes after a 2012 voter-approved initiative to pay for public safety.
In a statement from the city of Mill Creek, Kelly Chelin, the director of public information, wrote; “The voters made this decision, this service was important enough for them to approve an increase in the sales tax to support the services they wanted.”
“You hope that something good will come of this higher sales tax,” said Jenny Murphy, owner of Sounds Style in Edmonds.
Murphy said she’s dealt with numerous sales tax increases in the 30 years she’s been running her shop.
“I haven’t heard a lot of grumbling about it, but it is getting close to 10 % though and customers will notice,” added Murphy.
Pam Burwell lives in Edmonds and she said she will likely have to watch what she spends as taxes go up.
“If you’re buying a lot of items, taxes add up very, very quickly. I think I’ll probably slow down my spending habits,” said Burwell.
The tax increase is a result of a voter-approved initiative that will be used for transportation services, specifically to improve bus service for community transit.
“As we all know, transportation is an issue for the county and I think it’s nice we’re addressing transits, unfortunately it’s coming through sales tax,” said Scott James, finance director for the city of Edmonds.