EVERETT — The Snohomish County Council completed its first biennial budget update Wednesday, approving a planned 2% property tax increase with a 3-2 vote.

The vote was consistent with how the council voted in 2024 when it approved the 2025-26 biennial budget . Council members Meagan Dunn, Jared Mead and Strom Peterson — all Democrats — voted for the 2% increase, and Republican council members Nate Nehring and Sam Low voted against.

This increase was part of the $3.2. 2 billion budget since the 2024 vote.

“Last year, we were accused of increasing property taxes by 4%,” Mead said in an interview after the meeting. “Really what that meant was 2% each year.”

He added that while technically last year’s vote was on a 4% budget, “it was really two consecutive 2% budgets.”

The county’s reve

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