Voters said no to a 0.2 percent sales tax in Snohomish County that would have funded more public safety initiatives focused on reducing crime and addressing the fentanyl crisis.
Only 43.5 percent of voters cast a ballot in favor of Snohomish County Proposition No. 1, according to the tally as of Wednesday night. The county council voted unanimously in July to let voters decide on the tax.
The levy would have added a 2 cent tax to every $10 spent on retail sales within the county, except groceries and prescription medications. Snohomish County stood to gain an estimated $39.6 million from the tax. Of that, 60 percent would’ve gone to the county and 40 percent would’ve gone to the cities.
About $4.2 million would have gone to hiring new law enforcement officers, with $4.5 million for drug withdrawal management. An estimated $1.4 million would have funded youth crime-prevention programs. Another $2.5 million was to go toward a community resource center.
