Update: Birch Bay library

With only an estimated 50 votes left to count in the February 8 special election, plans for financing construction of the Birch Bay Vogt Community Library through a voter-approved tax initiative won’t pass.

Proposition 2022-2, on February 8 special election ballots, proposed creating a Birch Bay Library Capital Facility Area (LCFA) that would create an LCFA board to issue bonds to finance the expected $6.5 million library. Whatcom County Library System officials have previously said they expected property owners within the LCFA boundaries to pay 11 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

But a LCFA boundary will not be an option in the immediate future, as Proposition 2 only has garnered 56.9 percent of votes in support. The LCFA requires a 60-percent supermajority in favor and 40 percent of voters from the November 2021 general election to have voted. 

As of February 9, 1,875 voters were in support of Proposition 2, while 1,418 voters made up the 43 percent against the LCFA district. In total, 3,293 ballots have been counted for Proposition 2.

If the estimated 50 votes were all for Proposition 2, the proposition would need to have 2,006 “yes” votes to reach the supermajority. But the current 1,875 votes plus 50 votes is only 1,925.

Results were last tabulated February 9, and the next ballot count is 5 p.m. Thursday, February 17. The Whatcom County auditor’s office will certify election results Friday, February 18.