res2015-024WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2015 -047H
CLEARANCES
Initial
Date
Date Received in Council Office
Agenda Date
I
Assigned to:
twh
05104115
05.12.15
Finance
Originator:
%� // D
V
Division Head:
6/9/2015
/Council
Dept. Head:
A Y 0 5 2015
MA
6/23/2015
Council
os /os%is
Prosecutor.-
HATCOM COUNTY
Purchasin /Bud et:
COUNCIL
Executive.,
TITLE OF DOCUMENT: Resolution Authorizing a ballot proposition to be submitted to the qualified voters of the county.
ATTACHMENTS: Memo
Resolution
it
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
Should Clerk schedule a hearing ? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
Requested Date:
SUMMARYSTATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public hearing, you
must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate. Be clear in
explaining the intent of the action.)
3
Executive Louws respectfully requests Council approval that a ballot proposition be submitted to the qualified voters of the
county to authorize County Council to fix and impose a local sales and use tax of two tenths of one percent to provide funding
for costs associated with financing, design, acquisition, construction, equipping, operating, maintaining, remodeling,
repairing, re- equipping, and improvement of jail facilities, and other public safety purposes, subject to the approval of the
2015 Jail Facility Use Agreement by the County Council and all of the cities in Whatcom County.
COMMITTEE ACTION:
COUNCIL ACTION.•
5/12/2015: Discussed
6/9/2015: Held to June 23, 2015
6/23/2015: Discussed
6/23/2015: Substitute Resolution (giving the Executive
authority to move forward with Option 1 as
described in his memo to the Council dated
6/23/2015) Approved 4 -3, Mann, Buchanan,
f
I
Weimer opposed, Res. 2015 -024
Related County Contract #:
Related File Numbers:
Ordinance or Resolution Number:
Res. 2015 -024 j
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing on the County's website
at: www.co.whatcom.wa.us /council.
SPONSORED BY:
PROPOSED BY: EXECUTIVE
INTRODUCTION DATE: JUNE 3, 2015
RESOLUTION 2015- 024
PROVIDING FOR SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE COUNTY A
PROPOSITION AUTHORIZING A LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX OF TWO TENTHS
OF ONE PERCENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDS FOR COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH FINANCING, DESIGNING, ACQUIRING, CONSTRUCTING,
EQUIPPING, OPERATING, MAINTAINING, REMODELING, REPAIRING, RE-
EQUIPPING, AND IMPROVEMENT OF JAIL FACILITIES AND OTHER PUBLIC
SAFETY PURPOSES
WHEREAS, ensuring the protection and safety of the residents of Whatcom County
is an essential priority; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council has determined that the present county-
wide jail facilities on Prospect Street and an interim jail on Division Street in Bellingham,
which are owned, operated and maintained by Whatcom County, do not meet existing and
future County and cities' inmate incarceration needs; and
WHEREAS, the health, welfare and safety of the residents and businesses of
Whatcom County necessitate that the County provide additional jail facilities; and
WHEREAS, the health and safety of jail inmates and the safety of the County jail
staff necessitate that the County provide consolidated new jail facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Jail Planning Task Force, the County Sheriff and
the County Executive have collectively submitted a recommended plan for the building and
operation of a new County jail located on LaBounty Road in Ferndale; and
WHEREAS, in order to provide funding for costs associated with financing,
designing, acquiring, constructing, equipping, operating, maintaining, remodeling, repairing,
re- equipping and improvement of jail facilities, both new and limited inmate holding
facilities at the county courthouse, it is deemed necessary and advisable for Whatcom
County to impose an additional local sales and use tax of two tenths of one percent (0.2% -
- 20 cents for every $100) as authorized by RCW 82.14.450; and
WHEREAS, following passage of a voter - approved proposition for a sales and use
tax, the County intends to issue general obligation bonds for the construction costs of the
new jail sized appropriately for the County and those participating cities who have reached
long term agreements for cost sharing in the construction and operation of the new jail; and
WHEREAS, the life of the Bonds will be no more than 30 years and upon the full
repayment of the Bonds the County intends that collection of one half of the two tenths of
one percent of the sales and use tax shall expire;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that a ballot proposition shall be submitted
to the qualified voters of the County pursuant to RCW 82.14.450 to authorize the County
Council to fix and impose a local sales and use tax of two tenths of one percent (0.2% -- 20
cents for every $100) to provide funding for costs associated with financing, design,
acquisition, construction, equipping, operating, maintaining, remodeling, repairing, re-
equipping, and improvement of jail facilities, and other public safety purposes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Executive is hereby authorized and
requested to initiate the appropriate action necessary to ensure a proposition in
substantially the following form, to be submitted to the voters of Whatcom County:
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
PROPOSITION NUMBER
JAIL FACILITIES SALES AND USE TAX
The Whatcom County Council passed Resolution 2015 -024 concerning a proposition to
authorize a sales and use tax for jail facilities. This ballot proposition would authorize the
imposition of a sales and use tax of two tenths of one percent (20 cents for every $100) to
be used solely for costs associated with constructing and operating jail facilities to house
inmates held, charged, or convicted of misdemeanor and felony acts, and for other public
safety purposes, as authorized by RCW 82.14.450. Half of this tax (10 cents for every
$100) would expire upon repayment of bonds issued to finance the jail facilities, in any
event not later than 30 years after issuance. Should this proposition be:
Approved
Rejected
BE IT NOW FINALLY RESOLVED, that the County Auditor shall cause notice of the
proposed proposition to be published in accordance with the state constitution and general
law, and shall place the proposed proposition upon the ballot of the county wide general
election held on November 3, 2015.
ADOPTED. this L3rd day of June , 2015
U r
ATTE
Dag[a Brpwn- PDV19-,
Clerk, of the Ca IG'�••
APPROVE, lD Aq T9 FORl�a
Chief Civil Deputy Prosecutor
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Carl 4bimer,
Council Chair