HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2026-008Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2026-119
File ID: AB2026-119 Version: 1 Status: Approved
File Created: 01/26/2026 Entered by: KSmith@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Council Office File Type: Resolution
Assigned to: Council Public Works & Health Committee Final Action: 02/24/2026
Agenda Date: 02/24/2026 Enactment #: RES 2026-008
Related Files:
Primary Contact Email: ksmith@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Resolution calling on the State Legislature to recognize public health as essential and to maintain
Foundational Public Health Services funding (Council acting as the Health Board)
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
n/a
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To:
02/24/2026 Council Public Works & Health RECOMMENDED FOR
Committee APPROVAL
Aye: 7 Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
02/24/2026 Council APPROVED
Aye: 7 Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
Attachments: Proposed Resolution
Whatcom County Page t Printed on 212512026
PROPOSED BY: SCANLON
INTRODUCED: FEBRUARY 24, 2026
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-008
CALLING ON THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO RECOGNIZE PUBLIC HEALTH AS
ESSENTIAL AND TO MAINTAIN FOUNDATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES FUNDING
WHEREAS, a responsive and viable governmental public health system is essential for
healthy and economically vital communities across Washington; and
WHEREAS, protecting the public's health is a fundamental responsibility of the state,
which is accomplished through the state's governmental public health system comprised of the
state department of health, the state board of health, local health jurisdictions, sovereign
tribal nations, and Indian health programs; and
WHEREAS, Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) are core services that the
governmental public health system is responsible for providing consistently and uniformly in
every community in Washington; and
WHEREAS, like public safety, public utilities, and other public infrastructure, there is a
foundational level of public health services that must be maintained to ensure public health
services and systems are available everywhere; and
WHEREAS, the governmental public health system in Washington provides the
foundation for the larger health care framework, working to prevent illness and disease while
supporting the work of community partners; and
WHEREAS, in 2019, the Legislature passed HB 1497, which codified the governmental
public health system, the Foundational Public Health Services framework, and financial
resources to rebuild and transform public health in Washington State; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature established the Foundational Public Health Services Account
in 2023, and it appropriated $300 million in the 2026-2027 biennium to the governmental
public health system to implement Foundational Public Health Services; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County Health and Community Services receives $3,618,000 in
FPHS funds (current fiscal year) and has used the funds to bolster its work force, improving
capacity to meet core public health services in communicable disease surveillance and
prevention, environmental health, access to care, substance use prevention throughout
Whatcom County, and organizational foundational capabilities; and
WHEREAS, FPHS funding enables Whatcom County Health and Community Services to
respond quickly to emerging threats like measles, avian influenza, and respiratory illnesses;
stabilizes the immunizations program to provide frequent, accessible vaccine clinics in the
community, and provides treatment for active and latent tuberculosis, easing burden on local
healthcare systems; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County Health and Community Services has utilized FPHS
funding to support school safety, increase water system capacity including the development of
the Coordinated Water Systems Plan, and lead the region with a Climate Change summit
including local tribal, city, county, and community -based agencies and organizations to discuss
climate resilience initiatives; and
WHEREAS, FPHS funding is further utilized to support data, epidemiology, and
assessment activities to provide timely, relevant, and accurate data to the community through
Whatcom Community Health Insights, decision -makers, and partners; to modernize the
county's health data infrastructure; and to conduct a comprehensive Community Health
Assessment to inform community -wide efforts to improve the health and health systems in
Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County Health and Community Services has utilized FPHS
funding to hire communications staff to provide timely information on health risks, healthy
behaviors, and disease prevention in culturally appropriate formats including interpretation
services and translation of outreach materials, ensuring that all community members can
access critical health information and services; and
WHEREAS, FPHS funding enabled Whatcom County Health and Community Services to
maintain critical training and resiliency planning to ensure timely and effective response to
public health emergencies; and
WHEREAS, without maintaining ongoing, stable, and dedicated funding for core public
health services, Whatcom County's capacity to protect and support the health of the
community, especially the county's most vulnerable residents, will be severely compromised;
and
WHEREAS, supporting core public health services today and into the future is critical
to ensuring that communities grow to be and remain healthy, strong, and resilient to threats
and emergencies for future generations; and
WHEREAS, FPHS relies in part on vapor tax revenue, and in 2025 lawmakers passed
ESSB 5814 which reclassified most vapor products as tobacco products, shifting them to RCW
82.26 taxation and leaving only nicotine -free products under RCW 82.25, resulting in a
substantial reduction of FPHS funding for 2026 and beyond.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Board of Health calls
on the Washington State Legislature to:
• Recognize that public health is an essential service,
• Maintain Foundational Public Health Services funding,
• Fix the vapor tax errors that support the Foundational Public Health Services Account,
and
• Support core services in all Washington communities, by allowing public health to
continue to rebuild its statewide system with added efficiency.
APPROVED this 24th day of February
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Cathy Ha4& dikkEoatj$ Gouncil
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APPROVED AS�.T6,1=0RM : .,'-`
Kimberly Thulin (by emall 2.13.26fks)
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
2026
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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Kayle Galloway, Council C it