Whatcom County Council roundup

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The latest Whatcom County Council news …

Council discusses recommended biennium budget

Whatcom County Council held a meeting on October 22, then held a special meeting discussing the county executive’s recommended 2025-2026 biennium budget on October 29.

In the October 29 special meeting, council discussed the executive’s proposed 2025-2026 biennium budget. The budget projected a revenue increase in the general fund, jail fund, emergency medical services, equipment and administrative services, while forecasting a reduction in the county road fund, flood control zone district and other funds.

The 122-page budget document recommended the county operate with a general fund of $133.3 million by 2026. The general fund would have $139.8 million in expenditures, an increase from the current general fund expenditures of $136.2 million in 2024.

Council discussed in length what an expanded budget would look like for the superior, juvenile and district courts and administrations, which have seen an uptick in caseloads in recent years. The executive’s budget recommended an increase in revenues and expenditures for district and superior courts, and both the prosecutor’s and public defender’s offices.

County renews contract with BBWSD

Council renewed a five-year interlocal agreement with the Birch Bay Water and Sewer District in a 7-0 consent vote on October 22, continuing its longstanding partnership with the local water and sewer district to collaborate with flood management, water treatment and storm water runoff infrastructure.

The county renewed its five-year contract with BBWSD for $0, with the county saying that contract fees are “more than off-set” by the current cost of stormwater rates.

Discussion of Birch Bay UGA

During the council committee of the whole meeting on October 22, council discussed updating the population and employment projections for the Birch Bay urban growth area (UGA) and other areas around the county as part of its decennial update to the comprehensive plan, the long-range planning document for the county.

According to county data, the population of the Birch Bay UGA has more than doubled from 4,163 in 2000 to 8,685 in 2020, citing “adequate land supply, availability of public water and sewer and the attractiveness of the area.” (County council changed the Birch Bay UGA’s zoning regulations to increase residential density after the area was growing slower than anticipated in the comprehensive plan.)

A county technical report estimated an average population growth of 105 people per year in the Birch Bay UGA from 2023 to 2045, with 450 new jobs during the same period.

According to county data, Birch Bay UGA had 3.8 percent of the county-wide population in 2023, but only 0.5 percent of the county-wide jobs.

Council discusses Lummi Island ferry rate increases

The council finance and administrative services committee discussed on October 22 how the county would implement increased ferry fees for the Lummi Island ferry, though no action was officially taken by council.

Ferry fees are set up to fund 55 percent of the adjusted total operating costs associated with the ferry, while county funds subsidize the remaining 45 percent of the operations, according to county documents. The county road fund currently provides that subsidy, but council was notified in October 2022 that fares would not be able to cover its share of the operating costs.

If fares aren’t increased, according to a staff memo, the ferry would be operating at a nearly $1 million deficit by 2029. Multiple fare increases over the course of several years need to cover the funding gap, and the increase began after an executive order went into effect in June 2024. The $1 increase in fares was the first in 12 years.

Of three policy options; reduce expenses, reduce the percentage of operating costs that fares must cover, or increase fare revenues, council seemed to gravitate towards option three recommended by the county executive office. Increasing fare revenues would increase rates 28 percent in 2025, nine percent in 2026 and then eight percent through 2034.

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