HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2025-058Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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e Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
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Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2025-723
File ID: AB2025-723 Version: 1 Status: Adopted
File Created: 10/08/2025 Entered by: MMiterko@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Finance Division File Type: Ordinance Requiring a Public Hearing
Assigned to: Council (Special) Final Action: 12/02/2025
Agenda Date: 12/02/2025 Enactment #: ORD 2025-058
Related Files:
Primary Contact Email: ryrdel@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Ordinance authorizing the levy of taxes for countywide emergency medical purposes for 2026
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
The proposed ordiance authorizes the 2026 levy of taxes for countywide emergency medical purposes.
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To:
10/21/2025 Council INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC Council
HEARING
Aye: 6 Buchanan, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 1 Byrd
11/05/2025 Council HEARD PUBLIC Council Committee of the Whole
TESTIMONY AND
REFERRED TO
COMMITTEE
Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
11/18/2025 Council Committee of the Whole DISCUSSED
12/02/2025 Council (Special) PUBLIC TESTIMONY
RECEIVED (file not final)
12/02/2025 Council (Special) ADOPTED
Aye: 5 Buchanan, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, and Scanlon
Nay: 2 Byrd, and Stremler
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 121312025
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2025-723)
Attachments: Note regarding attachments to be provided, Proposed Ordinance, EMS Memo - Galloway 10.7.25,
Staff Memo 10.7.2025, Substitute Staff Memo 10.7.2025, Presentation 10.7.2025, Letter - IAFF
Local 106 10.8.2025, Countywide EMS Fund Projections 10.8.2025, Letter - Whatcom Fire Chiefs
Association 10.6.2025, Resolutions - Fire Commissioners, Letter - EMS Manager, Notice of
Hearing after 10.21.2025, Memo — EMS Manager, Notice of Hearing on 12.2.2025
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 121312025
PROPOSED BY: Executive
INTRODUCTION DATE: October 21, 2025
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-058
AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF TAXES
FOR COUNTYWIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL PURPOSES FOR 2026
WHEREAS, pursuant to Home Rule Charter Section 6.10 the County Executive is required to
submit for Council consideration a budget and proposed tax and revenue ordinances necessary to raise
sufficient revenues to balance the budget; and
WHEREAS, the County Council has approved a budget for the 2025-2026 biennium, including
all sources of revenues and anticipated expenditures on November 19, 2024; and
WHEREAS, annual property tax revenues are statutorily constrained to grow at just one percent
of the highest lawful levy plus the value of new construction, improvements to property and increases
in the value of state assessed property; and
WHEREAS, the costs of providing County services has increased significantly in recent years
due to statutory requirements, inflationary impacts, a growing population, and expanding community
needs; and
WHEREAS, the County has a structural budget imbalance in the Emergency Medical Services
Fund, where the cost of providing services to the County's growing population and businesses are
outpacing the County's revenues; and
WHEREAS, the County has entered into multi -year contractual commitments with the City of
Bellingham and rural fire districts of Whatcom County to support Advanced Life Support services and
Basic Life Support operations, as described in the 2023-2028 Whatcom County EMS Levy Plan adopted
by the Council on July 12, 2022; and
WHEREAS, to begin to address the structural imbalance and avoid abrupt service reductions,
it is necessary to use the County's deferred taxing authority, a.k.a. banked capacity, for the Countywide
Emergency Medical Services levy; and
WHEREAS, the County Council has held public hearings regarding the county biennial budget,
which included property tax revenues, and other revenues.
Page 1
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that an increase
in the Countywide Emergency Medical property tax levy is hereby authorized for the levy to be collected
in the 2026tax year. The dollar amount of the increase over the actual levy amount from the previous
year shall be $2,698,925, which is a percentage increase of 19.9% from the previous year. This increase
is exclusive of additional revenue resulting from new construction, improvements to property, newly
constructed wind turbines, solar, biomass, and geothermal facilities, and any increase in the value of
state assessed property, any annexations that have occurred and refunds made.
A np-ru-njimi,119ndday of December
ATTEST � <(
Cathy Halkas Clerk-j%t4q)C-o`uncil
APPROVED As �(� ° Volk ?
approved by' -Chris Qutt►n 10: 0.2025/LB
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
Page 2
2025
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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Kaylee 6alloway, Council Ch it