Whatcom County plans to raise your taxes TONIGHT (Nov. 5) — speak out now!
What’s Happening
The Whatcom County Council will hold a public hearing tonight (Wednesday) to authorize a series of property tax increases for collection in 2026.
- Date: Wednesday, November 5, 6 pm
- Location: Whatcom County Chambers, 311 Grand Ave, Bellingham (Hybrid- in person and virtual)
- Agenda link: View on Legistar
Most taxes (below) are proposed to increase by 1 percent, which is the maximum allowed under state law without voter approval. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) tax would rise 19.9 percent to make up for amounts the County did not collect in earlier years. These taxes fund important services like roads, flood control, and public safety but also affect the overall tax burden local residents and businesses will pay next year.
Proposed Increases
| Levy | Proposed Tax Increase |
| General Fund | +1% ($387,351) |
| County Road Fund | +1% ($246,923) + $1.15M diverted to County’s General Fund |
| Flood Control Zone District | +1% ($65,151) |
| Conservation Futures | +1% ($14,179) |
| Emergency Medical Services (EMS) | +19.9% ($2.7M) |
Why It Matters
County revenues have continued to rise through higher property values and overall tax collections. Yet instead of finding ways to control costs, the County is proposing to raise property taxes again and increase overall spending by more than $10 million in the second half of the current two-year budget that was approved last December.
In addition to the 1% County Road Fund tax increase, the County also plans to move more than $1.15 million from the Road Fund to the General Fund for traffic law enforcement in unincorporated areas. While this is permitted under state law, it reduces the amount available for road maintenance and infrastructure, especially in rural communities that rely most on those funds. This comes after raising taxes last year and using all remaining taxing capacity above the 1 percent limit allowed by state law.
The 19.9 percent EMS increase reflects the County’s decision to start collecting revenue that was previously left uncollected under the voter-approved levy. County officials say this helps stabilize funding for emergency medical services. Others question whether this approach signals a broader need for long-term planning and better cost control to avoid sharp increases in the future.
While some cost increases are unavoidable, taxpayers deserve more than short-term fixes. the County Executive has acknowledged that recent cuts only address the “low-hanging fruit,” meaning deeper spending problems remain.
What You Can Do
- Attend or log in to the hearing (in person or via Zoom).
- Submit written comments to Council@co.whatcom.wa.us.
- Encourage others to participate as these decisions affect every property and homeowner and renter in Whatcom County.
Sample Comment Starters
- “As costs rise for families, we’re all making cuts. County government should be doing the same not just superficial ones before asking for more.”
- “If tax revenue is increasing, taxpayers deserve to know how that growth is being managed to prevent new tax hikes.”
- “Instead of increasing taxes again, the county should focus on protecting essential services and making better use of the money it already collects.”
Responsible government means living within its means just like the people it serves.
Make your voice heard before the final vote tonight (Wednesday).