Whatcom County government enacts 90-day hiring freeze

In an email sent to Whatcom County employees on July 15, county executive Satpal Sidhu announced a 90-day hiring freeze across all departments due to dwindling federal funds and a leveling out of tax revenue.

Facing a projected budget deficit of $15 million for 2025, the county is looking at ways to tighten its purse strings after years of what it called extensive investment into pay increases and more hiring for the court and law enforcement, according to a June 11 presentation to councilmembers by deputy county executive Kayla Schott-Bressler.

“With no new revenue streams anticipated and our traditional revenue sources flat, we see budget challenges ahead,” the email from Sidhu stated. “The purpose of this action is to ensure we have the resources to support our current workforce and to give County leadership an opportunity to think strategically about our financial decisions as we approach the budget process for the next biennium.”

The “selective hiring freeze” means vacant positions in most county departments will remain unfilled, with exception to employees hired before the July 15 announcement. According to county budget documents, Whatcom County employs roughly 1,000 full-time employees totaling roughly $129 million in salaries, wages and benefits in 2023-24.

Since 2020, 51 new full-time positions were added to the health department, 12 positions were added to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and 10 positions were added to the public defender’s office, with at least one additional full-time staff member added to most other departments.

According to county budget records, the high-water mark for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding came in 2022 when the county received $22.26 million. The 2024 budget expected just around $4 million in ARPA funds, and county executive spokesperson Jed Holmes said no more ARPA funds are coming.

County finance manager Brad Bennett warned councilmembers during the June 11 special meeting that the next two years could see cuts beyond a hiring freeze to keep the county budget balanced.

“Finance is thinking this is going to be a real squeaker of a budget year,” Bennett said. “In fact we’re going to have to budget to prioritize to make ends meet.”