Everett Bails Out Its Own Treasury
When the city treasury ran dry after a local prohibition measure eliminated saloon tax revenue, Everett residents stepped up with a $50,000 public subscription drive.
Once more the Everett spirit—that quality of citizenship that has made Everett the best little city in the Northwest—has risen to the occasion. The raising of fifty thousand dollars by popular subscription in a city of twenty-five thousand people is a remarkable thing. Everett decided through a majority of her voters to eliminate the saloon business, but the city found itself many thousands of dollars short of the money necessary to run the city, as no one foresaw the financial stringency when the 1911 budget was prepared. A wholesome, common-sense suggestion was made that restored a riotous citizenship to its mental balance: 'The money has got to be raised; it is childish to be snarling and scrapping like quarrelsome children; we brought this condition about, let's get out of it; we want to live here.' The response to the solicitations of the Business Men's association has been prompt and generous, giving us confidence to tackle other civic problems.
“The originator of the popular subscription idea knew something of human nature—people are 'just folks' and pretty good at heart, but we do resent something forced on us in the way of taxation.”
Everett’s 1911 budget crisis mirrors modern-day municipal struggles where moral or ideological pivots clash with structural tax dependency. It is a striking example of 'civic pride' used as a lever to bridge the gap between voters' moral desires and the practical cost of city services.
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