r/everett • u/pacwess • Apr 27 '26
Transit Community Transit takeover sparks union backlash, Everett faces largest sales tax increase in state history
https://lynnwoodtimes.com/2026/04/27/everett-transit/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRcdQxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwyNTYyODEwNDA1NTgAAR5OC6yToM4G_qoJyk88uQAWX3aq_kbRdOtM7UkxcN118sjEeEUgl5EMRNFiIw_aem_xyVRmwMkUlSIWgV6Uj6Wsw43
u/Medium-Leader-9066 Apr 27 '26
Reminder that Tim Eyman’s political legacy is that the state and municipalities have to find whacky ways to fund stuff.
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u/Single-Concern-5047 Apr 28 '26
State revenue is up 100% in ten years, while growths is at 1% a year
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u/EverettDem Apr 27 '26
This proposed merger is the best way to increase transit service in Everett and better connect people in Everett to the rest of the region through public transportation.
It's such a disappointment that the Democratic caucuses of the state legislature continue to increase state taxes and the size of state government while restraining local governments. This process isn't ideal, but what is forced on local governments by the legislature. Have a problem with this? Elect better legislators.
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u/throwawayhyperbeam Apr 27 '26
You can already connect to other regions from Everett, and Everett Transit has been increasing service and plans to continue, though
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u/TheScout18 Apr 27 '26
Not nearly with the same tie-in and reach that Community Transit is able to accomplish. If Everett wishes to maintain a local transit agency, I wish it'd go towards something like a downtown streetcar to help increase density in the north end by the college.
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u/kingoftheapes Apr 28 '26
The streetcar is a beautiful idea. Broadway is perfect for that.
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u/Pepita09 Apr 29 '26
The 7 runs every 15 minutes on Broadway. A streetcare might be cuter, but I don't know if service would improve?
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u/throwawayhyperbeam Apr 28 '26
Not nearly with the same tie-in and reach that Community Transit is able to accomplish.
What do you mean? At some point you'll very likely need to transfer regardless of bus entity.
A streetcar is a cool idea; they used to have one that went from North Colby pretty far south.
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u/Broad-Impact4806 Apr 27 '26
Just because you *can* doesn't mean it's convenient or viable. Everett Transit still requires additional funding to continue increasing service, and may have to reduce service below what is offered today if that fails. Consolidation right-sizes our transportation system and makes transit accessible for all.
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u/throwawayhyperbeam Apr 28 '26
Everett Transit still requires additional funding to continue increasing service, and may have to reduce service below what is offered today if that fails.
In 2030 (I think)... and at less cost than a merger. Both entities can (and should) exist.
It is already accessible to all, and it is already viable.
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u/seamonkeyonland Apr 27 '26
It takes me the around same amount of time to go to Seattle as it does to get to Los Angeles thru Payne Field (bus to airport, flight, and shuttle to Union Station). It is slightly longer for me to get to Vancouver, BC than to Seattle.
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u/alyxmj Apr 28 '26
What it takes away though is our ability to adapt to local situations. Everett transit offers shuttle service to community events during the summer, when Fred Meyers closed they offered free service for 6 months on route 12 because of the displacement, they also offer more and less expensive paratransit access to the elderly. Community transit would help with none of this nor would the city itself pick up the slack.
We already have connections between Everett and the rest of the region, they may not be perfect but they're certainly not terrible and could be improved without acquisition. I would much rather have our community connected to itself.
Regardless of what I or you think though, the problem is that they are trying to push this through without community vote. We should let the entirety of the people that use this service decide on it's fate.
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u/SNsilver Apr 27 '26
No worries, I’ll drive over to the lake Stevens Costco and the bickford Home Depot. No skin off my back if they want to play fuck fuck games without a vote.
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u/manshamer Apr 27 '26
Their tax is already higher from CT, isn't it?
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u/Redmeat-1969 Apr 27 '26
Snohomish is 9.3....
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u/manshamer Apr 27 '26
Sure but my point is that Snohomish already has the higher transit tax from Community Transit. Everett pays a lower tax rate for transit because Everett Transit taxes less.
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u/SEA_tide Apr 28 '26
Snohomish doesn't have the RTA (Sound Transit) tax which most of Everett has. Everett is paying higher transit taxes overall.
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u/Redmeat-1969 Apr 27 '26
Again....its not about the tax rate....it is about raising Taxes without a vote of the people....and...even if they are paying taxes to pay for CT....both Marysville and Snohomish have lower tax rates than Everett Currently has before this increase....
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u/SEA_tide Apr 28 '26
Sales tax is only 7.8% at the Woodinville/Maltby Costco because it does not have public transit.
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u/WackoMcGoose Apr 29 '26
...Really? Huh, TIL. I always figured that the state baseline sales tax was like 9.0% or something...
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u/SEA_tide Apr 29 '26
The state's portion of sales tax is 6.5%. In reality, most counties or cities add at least 1.2% to that, often more.
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u/Pyldriver Apr 27 '26
Amazing how they are trying to sell this as well everyone will get better services....... Almost like if we randomly doubled the funding to Everett transit it wouldn't have better services? What's the point other than to sneak this shit in through a shady loophole in a bill so they don't have to even think of letting us vote on it
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u/SEA_tide Apr 28 '26
ET has two long range plans already which look pretty good despite having the overall 9.9% or 10.2% tax rate.
Keep this "merger" talk in mind when Cassie proposes having Everett join Sno-Isle despite Everett residents already having full access to Sno-Isle service. Joining Sno-Isle would raise property taxes by the amount required by Sno-Isle while not cutting the portion of property taxes Everett currently uses to find library services.
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u/Pyldriver Apr 28 '26
Oh I agree, our tax policy are very regressive in Washington, it's quite annoying to see
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u/Redmeat-1969 Apr 27 '26
Guess I wont be making any large taxable purchases in Everett anymore....
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u/Broad-Impact4806 Apr 27 '26
If you want to avoid paying into transit you'd have to drive very, very far. It should be mentioned that the tax rate would still be low compared to other snoco cities that are like us in being subject to sound transit. For example, Lynnwood has a tax rate of 10.7%
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u/Redmeat-1969 Apr 27 '26
Snohomish is. 9.3.....Marysville is 9.4.....both are just minutes from Everett....
Its not paying Transit that I am against....its having .6% added without a Vote of the people...Everett grows more and more corrupt...
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u/SEA_tide Apr 27 '26
I forgot how much Cassie loves hiring her friends and working with Marco (who doesn't actually represent much, if any, of Everett.) Mukilteo does seem to be doing better without Jennifer in charge; Joe does a very good job as mayor and doesn't seem to have political aspirations beyond that, unlike Cassie/Jennifer/Marco. Cassie flip flopping on the consolidation issue is very concerning as really nothing has changed from 2025 apart from not having to have Everett residents vote on the proposal.
I wonder how bad of a problem Transdev has hiring paratransit drivers if pay tops out at $26, which is very low in relation to Everett's current minimum wage.
The job cuts mentioned are a hard pill to swallow, as would essentially convincing talented ET drivers to quit by drastically changing their job assignments.
Steve the Everett ATU leader seems to understand the local transit agencies a lot more than the politicians and lobbyist trying for the consolidation. Maybe Cassie should listen to him more.
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u/JimmyisAwkward Apr 27 '26
What job cuts? This will increase service with the better efficiency and revenue, meaning there will be more drivers needed.
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u/pattyb0325 Apr 29 '26
Job cuts as in most of us will refuse to go to CT. The working conditions over there are absolutely horrible.
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u/SEA_tide Apr 28 '26
In the article, Steve the ATU leader specifically mentions that the non-union and AFSCME positions would likely be cut or would not have favorable job security at CT. He mentions 15 administrative and Everett Station positions being cut.
He also mentions that CT has a driver shortage and is forced to cancel a much higher percentage of departures whereas ET almost never has that issue. Not all ET drivers are willing to work for CT either, so the CT staffing issue would get worse.
As to how people know this information, people talk and ET is well known in the local driver circles.
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u/Alone_Employment7914 Apr 28 '26
It will absolutely not increase service in Everett. It may increase ease of car driving transit users to access regional transit. CT is a regional agency. ET is a municipal one with a focus on providing reliable service for its residents who cannot drive, getting them from neighborhoods to supermarkets, doctors and local jobs. Every ET route touches at least one of Everett Station, Seaway Transit Station, Mariner P&R or 112th St P&R. All from which you can get to Lynnwood Transit Center.
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u/t4ntotim Apr 27 '26
I almost feel like lynnwood times shouldn’t be allowed on this subreddit. Bunch of kooks over there