Whatcom County government’s major spending in the next two years will be on emergency medical services (EMS), law enforcement, public health, justice and development, in that order.
Whatcom County Council adopted, in a 5-2 vote, with councilmembers Tyler Byrd and Ben Elenbaas opposed, the county’s final budget for 2023-24 in its November 22 regular meeting. The county will spend over $117.2 million in 2023 and $121.1 million in 2024 out of the general fund, according to the ordinance.
In total, over the biennium, Whatcom County has budgeted for $43.8 million to be spent on EMS, $41 million to fund Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) operations, $37.6 million to fund the health department, $15.4 million for the prosecuting attorney’s office and $13.6 million for the planning and development services department. According to the county’s budget breakdown, law and justice accounts for 52.4 percent of the 2023-24 general fund’s budget. The health department comes in second at 15.9 percent.
Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu presented a recommended 2023-24 budget to council at its October 25 meeting with child and family services, homeless services and shelter capital, criminal justice backlog and broadband access as well as crisis and flood response systems listed as priorities along with the millions of dollars allocated for each. Sidhu also asked for council to continue to support the newly formed Whatcom Racial Equity Commission and water solutions table process, which will offer funds for salmon and sustainable farming efforts in the Nooksack River watershed.
“We were cautious in our spending plans, protecting our general fund and preserving our workforce to ensure continued quality of service,” Sidhu said. “Thankfully, our community, state and country proved resilient.
“Not only did local revenues continue at a strong and steady pace, but the federal government delivered its largest ever fiscal recovery package and also committed to a significant infrastructure investment,” Sidhu continued. “As a result, we’ve spent much of the past two years not only addressing the pandemic’s impacts but also investing in community priorities in new and meaningful ways.”
The recently passed EMS levy of 29 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value will help support its larger budget. In 2022, the county spent over $9 million more on EMS than it did in 2021, according to the amended 2022 budget, and will continue to operate around that level in the next two years.
From 2022 to 2023, WCSO’s budget will grow by 13 percent, as it hires 10 new deputies. The health department budget increased from nearly $15 million in 2022 to $18.8 million in 2023 and 2024.
Elenbaas said before voting during the November 22 meeting that he was torn because he only had one vote, and while he supports many budget items, like 10 new deputies, he listed other issues he believes need to be addressed, like homelessness, flooding issues, a new jail facility and mental health.
“So I’m torn. Torn on whether I’m voting ‘yes’ or voting ‘no,’” he said. “Probably leaning more towards a no, because I really want to support the whole package, and I don’t know if I’m there yet.”
Sidhu said when he presented the budget in October one of the underlying principles of the proposed budget was financial sustainability and that the county was in a strong financial position. He said the plan was to maintain this through prudent management of current expenses and careful planning of new investments.
“In particular, we have created capacity for growth of community services by utilizing and leveraging growth in dedicated fund sources,” Sidhu told council. “At the same time, cost increases for such items like fuel, materials and services are unavoidable, and we have prepared the budget with consideration for these inflationary pressures.”
Projected increases in sales tax revenues and a proposed 1 percent increase in the county’s property tax levy will help to offset the rising costs, he said. The county’s ending balance for 2024 is expected to be $19.3 million, which exceeds its minimum reserve policy.
For more information and detailed summary of the budget, visit bit.ly/3PtN7Nc.
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