What does a YES vote on Snohomish County Proposition No. 5 mean?

The Snohomish County Council would need a 4/5 vote to assess, levy or increase any councilmanic tax.

What does a NO vote on Snohomish County Proposition No. 5 mean?

Snohomish County Council taxes would not require a 4/5 vote.

Does this apply to fees?

No. The explanatory statement says it would not affect county-imposed fees, rates and charges, or special assessments.

How many councilmembers could block a tax increase?

With five councilmembers and a 4-vote requirement, two members voting no would be enough to stop a councilmanic tax increase.

What do the pamphlet statements say?

The statement for says it requires broad agreement before taxes rise on residents who are already struggling. The statement against says it lets two councilmembers overrule the majority and could block routine levies for services such as sheriff deputies, courts and roads.

How many votes does Snohomish County Proposition No. 5 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Snohomish County Proposition No. 5?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Snohomish County Proposition No. 5 — Requiring a 4/5 Supermajority Council Vote to Increase Taxes

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:33 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026

What it does: Proposed Amendments to the Snohomish County Charter Proposition No. 5 Requiring a 4/5 Supermajority Council Vote to Increase Taxes The Snohomish County Charter Review Commission has proposed an amendment to the county charter concerning the approval of tax increases by the County Council. This proposition would require a 4/5 supermajority council vote to assess, levy, or increase any councilmanic tax. This proposition would amend Section 2.20 of the County Charter. Should this proposition be enacted into law:
A YES vote means: The Snohomish County Council would need a 4/5 vote to assess, levy or increase any councilmanic tax.
A NO vote means: Snohomish County Council taxes would not require a 4/5 vote.
Needed to pass: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean: Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Today

The Snohomish County Council has five members. Charter Section 2.20 governs how the Council approves taxes it can impose without a public vote (councilmanic taxes); the pamphlet's statement against says the measure would raise that voting threshold from a majority to 80%.
The Charter already requires four affirmative votes for certain other Council actions, according to the pamphlet's statement for the measure.

If it passes

Any new or increased tax that the Council can impose without a vote of the people would need a supermajority of 4 of the 5 councilmembers.
It would not affect county fees, rates and charges, or special assessments.
The Herald reports it would apply to councilmanic tax increases occurring after January 1, 2027.

Who would notice

Snohomish County taxpayers and the County Council, through how county taxes that do not go to a public vote can be raised. It does not itself change any tax.

How it got here

The Charter requires a Charter Review Commission every 10 years. The 15-member 2026 commission considered 25 proposals and sent five to the ballot; Commissioner Janelle Cass sponsored this one. The County Council unanimously voted on June 3, 2026 to send the five propositions to the County Auditor for the November ballot.

In the news

Five county charter changes head to November ballot · The Herald (Everett), 2026-06-24

Written by SpectrumVote from 2 linked sources (1, 2). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Background

This amendment began as proposal 21 before the 2026 Snohomish County Charter Review Commission, sponsored by Commissioner Cass, according to the commission's proposal list.

According to the proposed text, after January 1, 2027 any new councilmanic tax could be levied or increased only by a 4/5 vote of the County Council; it would not apply to fees, rates, charges or special assessments, or to existing taxes renewed without a rate increase.

The commission voted 10-5 on May 6, 2026 to have ballot language drafted and forward the proposal (no: Commissioners Gregerson, Chatters, Dodd, McGee and James); on May 20 it rejected 0-12 a motion to also cover fees and rates, and tabled the proposal 8-5, according to the minutes.

The proposal was on the May 27, 2026 agenda for a final vote; minutes of that meeting were not posted on the county site when checked.

Put on the ballot by Snohomish County Charter Review Commission (forwarded 10-5 on May 6, 2026; final vote May 27, 2026 agenda, minutes not posted).

From official source 1, official source 2, official source 3, official source 4, official source 5.

Who's for and against

Supporting (YES)

Opposing (NO)

A sourced selection, not a complete list. Who supports a measure is listed so you can see who is behind each side; SpectrumVote takes no position.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Snohomish County Proposition No. 5 mean?: The Snohomish County Council would need a 4/5 vote to assess, levy or increase any councilmanic tax.
What does a NO vote on Snohomish County Proposition No. 5 mean?: Snohomish County Council taxes would not require a 4/5 vote.
Does this apply to fees?: No. The explanatory statement says it would not affect county-imposed fees, rates and charges, or special assessments.
How many councilmembers could block a tax increase?: With five councilmembers and a 4-vote requirement, two members voting no would be enough to stop a councilmanic tax increase.
What do the pamphlet statements say?: The statement for says it requires broad agreement before taxes rise on residents who are already struggling. The statement against says it lets two councilmembers overrule the majority and could block routine levies for services such as sheriff deputies, courts and roads.
How many votes does Snohomish County Proposition No. 5 need to pass?: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Snohomish County Proposition No. 5?: SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?: The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Snohomish County ballot.

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