Island County Seeks Public Input on 2026 Budget, Taxes and Fireworks Ban

Island County commissioners on November 21 set public hearings for early December to allow residents to weigh in on multiple measures that will shape county finances and local regulations for 2026. The hearings follow presentation of a draft current expense budget that relies in part on a proposed one tenth of one percent sales tax described as a law and justice tax to close a projected shortfall.

County staff estimate the proposed sales tax could generate about $1.9 million annually. If approved, the levy would increase the sales tax rate for purchases in unincorporated areas of Island County, shifting some of the burden of closing the budget gap to consumer spending rather than to other revenue sources. Commissioners also scheduled a hearing on proposed adjustments to the real estate excise tax, a levy that is collected when property changes hands and that can alter revenue flows tied to housing market activity.

In addition to revenue questions, commissioners plan to take public comment on a proposal to ban mortar style fireworks within unincorporated areas. The item raises public safety and enforcement questions for the county, and could affect how residents celebrate summer holidays in areas outside city limits.

The meetings are expected to expose differences among commissioners over the mix of policy tools to balance the budget and pursue public safety goals. Those differences were cited by county leadership when they announced the hearings, reflecting competing priorities about how to fund core county services, the distribution of tax burden across residents and visitors, and where to draw lines on personal use of fireworks in areas the county oversees.

For Island County residents the stakes are concrete. The law and justice sales tax would alter the retail sales tax rate in unincorporated communities, with potential effects on local consumer costs and on revenue available for services the county funds from the current expense budget. Changes to the real estate excise tax could influence transaction costs for sellers and buyers and affect the predictability of property related revenue the county depends upon. A ban on mortar style fireworks would change enforcement responsibilities for county staff and change permitted behavior for people living outside city jurisdictions.

The hearings provide a formal venue for civic engagement on these issues. Commissioners have invited community input in early December, and public testimony could sway final decisions as the board moves toward adopting the 2026 budget and related ordinances. With commissioners publicly divided on some measures, turnout at the hearings may be particularly important in shaping the county commission majority that will determine final outcomes.