Whatcom County Council

The session also addressed critical infrastructure needs, approving a controversial lease for new Sheriff's Office space at 4600 Ryzex Way and authorizing a three-year $22.9 million jail healthcare contract. While these major expenditures advanced, Council wrestled with competing priorities as they face a structural budget deficit and pressure to avoid tax increases.

**Budget Items (All held open until December 2):** - AB2025-707: 2026 Budget amendment ($20,970,606) - Motion 7-0 to hold - AB2025-719-725: Four tax levy ordinances - Each held 7-0 - AB2025-711, 709: Flood Control Zone District budget items - Both held 7-0 **Major Contracts Approved:** - AB2025-730: Jail healthcare contract with Correctional Healthcare Partners ($22.9 million, 3 years) - Passed 7-0 - AB2025-782: Sheriff's Office lease agreement with Ryanna LLC (4600 Ryzex Way) - Passed 6-0 (Donovan abstained) - AB2025-676: 2026-2031 Water Resources Improvement Program - Passed 5-2 (Donovan, Elenbaas opposed) **Other Actions:** - 18 consent agenda contracts approved with minimal opposition - Food bank funding acceleration approved 5-0 (allowing 2026 funds to be spent in 2025) - Council appointments and confirmations completed

"We're looking at a seven million dollar structural deficit that we're making worse by the day and we're kind of like dancing around this discussion of taxes." **Lauren Carlson, 16-year-old EMS advocate:** "I've watched those red lights and blue lights reflect off my family's face and feel that horrendous mix of fear and relief that only comes with when the help finally arrives." **Sheriff Donnell Tanksley, on facility needs:** "The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office has been in a basement for almost a hundred years... I almost feel like I'm begging for a decent place for the Sheriff's Office." **Dr. Ralph Likey, on EMS excellence:** "Whatcom County EMS is proven to be even better at saving lives from cardiac arrest than our own state's leading performance... even better than Seattle King County medic one." **Amy Steele, Nooksack Valley Food Bank:** "My first year as director in 2021 our total visits for that year were three thousand eight hundred and eighty. This year... fourteen thousand four hundred and seventy four visits." **Council Member Elenbaas, on procedural concerns:** "I have a hard time believing that someone's going to say it's a large enough change that it needs to be reintroduced because we are expected to do that this is the only place we can do that as a body."

# A Council Balancing Act: Budget Battles and Public Safety Needs ## Meeting Overview On Wednesday evening, November 5, 2025, the Whatcom County Council convened for what would become a marathon session lasting over four hours. Chair Kaylee Galloway called the hybrid meeting to order at 6:03 PM with all seven council members present: Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler. The evening's agenda was dominated by the county's 2026 budget deliberations, featuring multiple public hearings on budget amendments and tax levies totaling over $20 million. But what made this meeting particularly notable was the convergence of two critical county needs: the ongoing budget crisis requiring difficult choices about taxes and spending cuts, and the decades-long struggle to find adequate facilities for the Sheriff's Office. The meeting would reveal the complex dynamics of local government finance, the passionate advocacy of community members, and the challenging decisions facing elected officials as they balance competing demands with limited resources. ## The Budget Amendment Maze The council began by introducing five items for future consideration, including three alternative tax levy proposals that would provide backup options if the executive's proposed budget failed to gain support. Councilmember Donovan explained the strategic importance of these alternatives: "Not hearing any consensus that we're going that way, it's important that we introduce these then and then coordinate what those cuts may be on the 18th." Before opening the public hearing on the county's $20.9 million budget amendment, council members took an unusual step of previewing their proposed amendments to give the public an opportunity to respond. This procedural innovation sparked immediate debate when Councilmember Byrd raised a point of order, arguing that discussing amendments not yet formally part of the budget document could be improper. "Those would be substantive changes to the budget document and under public comment. They aren't currently a part of the document that the community has been noticed on," Byrd contended. Attorney Kimberly Thulin clarified that the council could present proposed amendments for transparency as long as they planned to hold the public hearing open for continued discussion. This legal guidance allowed the council to proceed with what Galloway described as operating "in the spirit of transparency." Councilmember Scanlon presented two amendments: a $200,000 allocation from the Community Priorities Fund to develop a strategic plan and performance metrics for county operations, and a non-fiscal amendment requiring the county to complete its long-overdue community health assessment. "Every entity I've ever worked for in my career has had performance metrics whether it's working at a sushi restaurant running tables we had numbers for the night," Scanlon explained. "I think this would be a benefit to the county because you all would know what our goals are what our metrics are and then we could report back to you." Councilmember Elenbaas proposed cutting contracts with third-party facilitators for county boards and commissions, describing the savings as "quite substantial" and potentially "as much as we're proposing to increase your taxes." His rationale was clear: "I would like to prioritize keeping our employees around" rather than cutting full-time positions. Councilmember Stremler offered a more targeted approach, proposing to eliminate a portion of the Parks Department's seasonal help program and redirect those funds to food banks. "I feel that people who are in need of food are more important than cleaning up some trails," he stated bluntly. Councilmember Donovan took a broader perspective, proposing to move $500,000 from the Community Priorities Fund to support food banks while challenging the council to confront the underlying budget structural deficit. "We're looking at a seven million dollar structural deficit that we're making worse by the day and we're kind of like dancing around this discussion of taxes," he observed pointedly. ## Food Banks in Crisis: A Community Calls for Help The public hearing portion of the meeting became an overwhelming demonstration of community need, with representatives from food banks across Whatcom County painting a stark picture of increased demand and diminishing resources. Amy Steele, director of Nooksack Valley Food Bank, delivered sobering statistics: "In 2024 we had a total of fourteen thousand four hundred and seventy four visits to our food bank and that was a record number for us. My first year as director in 2021 our total visits for that year were three thousand eight hundred and eighty." She explained that despite serving more people, "our incoming food from our three main sources has dropped 40%." Daniel Burdick from the Blaine Food Bank provided additional context about the scope of need: "At the Blaine food bank alone we've seen more than a 30% increase in our visits over the last two years. Families who used to donate are now in line for groceries, seniors on fixed incomes, veterans and working parents who have always given back to this community and are struggling to keep food on the table." The testimony revealed the human impact of policy decisions. Rosa Figueroa from Agave Food Bank shared touching stories of client gratitude: "One guest shared how excited she was to cook a meal for her family with the food that we had to offer another time a guest picked up some food from us and returned with that same food but prepared it a hot meal for us because of how grateful they were." Christina Plankovich from Ferndale Food Bank described the difficult operational decisions facing food banks: "We've started giving people half gallons of milks instead of full gallon of milks. Some months we're asking shoppers to pick either hamburger or eggs not both, pick one or the other so that we can stay on target and not run out of money before the end of the year." The consistent message from all food bank representatives was a request for an additional $1 million for the Whatcom County Food Bank Network in 2026, beyond the already allocated $750,000. As Henry Fisher from Foothills Food Bank explained, "Food insecurity is without question a public health emergency while food banks are not the whole solution and I recognize that we are the first line of defense for community members struggling to put food on their table." ## Emergency Medical Services: A System Under Strain The hearing also featured strong advocacy for the county's Emergency Medical Services, with speakers emphasizing both the system's excellence and its financial needs. Dr. Ralph Likey, the EMS medical director, delivered remarkable news about the county's performance: "The 2024 cares registry data looking at the utsine criteria shows that Washington State leads the nation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. What is even more remarkable is that the data also shows that Whatcom County EMS is proven to be even better at saving lives from cardiac arrest than our own state's leading performance." This medical excellence comes at a cost, as RobRoy Graham from the Whatcom County Fire Commissioners Association explained: "We choose to pick what yields the best result to our patients. The only problem with these life-saving monitors is they cost $46,000. In 2009 the same unit was $30,000." He described even more dramatic cost increases for ambulances: "An ambulance purchased in 2022 cost my district $202,000. The next ambulance for our district due this spring will cost us $256,000 for nearly the exact same unit. That's a 25% increase in only three years." A particularly moving testimony came from 16-year-old Lauren Carlson, whose letter was read by her mother: "Over the past few years of my life I've had to call 9-1-1 more times than I can count. Every time it was professional and well-trained people that helped me and they're sitting behind us right now. They even remembered me by name the next time they came and that's something I really can't forget." Jim Hallett, representing the EMS Finance Committee, urged the council to consider value over cost: "Among the standards for EMS measurement of success the qualitative as well as quantitative factors I'm here to tell you that our emergency medical services in Whatcom County ranks as one of the best in the United States and that is substantiated by facts." ## The Sheriff's Office Basement Blues The open session portion of the meeting transformed into a unified plea from law enforcement professionals for decent working conditions. The theme was consistent and powerful: after decades in substandard facilities, the Sheriff's Office desperately needed the council's approval for a lease at 4600 Ryzex Way. Sergeant Todd Damon provided stark context: "I work for the sheriff's office for 26 years. Fortunately I've spent all my career on patrol and I've never had to work in the basement offices or the dungeon as it's referred to on patrol. Other than the adult jail I don't know of any County employee that works without any natural light. There's no natural light in the dungeon." Detective Samuel Madrid emphasized how the poor conditions affected their ability to serve victims: "I often work with many victims and families who have been victimized in very serious and egregious crimes. Our current facility has done its best to mitigate over the years. I would ask the council to consider if a family member of loved one were in this position they would want their family member to be cared for safely in a positive and inclusive environment free of unnecessary distractions." Sergeant Jason Lorraine painted a picture of a facility that had simply outlived its usefulness: "The current building has shown its age. It's outdated, cramped and in some areas literally fallen apart. We've had sewage leaks, plumbing failures, constant maintenance issues. For our detectives who spend long hours investigating some of the toughest cases in our county there isn't a single window. Imagine spending 10 hours in the dark airless space reviewing crime scene photos or interviewing victims." Austin Striebel, president of the Whatcom County Deputy Sheriff's Guild, raised important safety concerns about the proposed location: "You may not know this area of cordata has gang activity. There was a gang shooting a couple hundred feet from this building on Horton that resulted in two people being shot one gang member being killed." He requested secured parking for civilian employees and adequate lighting and camera systems. Sheriff Donnell Tanksley delivered perhaps the most emotional plea: "I almost feel like I'm begging. I'm begging for a decent place for the Sheriff's Office and the community to feel proud of. When someone calls 9-1-1 they're not asking about the budget, they want a response. When a person is trying to figure out who assaulted them and they need to come to the Sheriff's Office they want to come to a place where they feel safe." ## Procedural Complications and Budget Realities The meeting revealed significant procedural challenges as the council grappled with how to handle budget amendments without running afoul of public hearing requirements. The discussion between Councilmembers, County Attorney Kimberly Thulin, and Deputy Executive Aly Pennucci highlighted the complexity of municipal budget processes. The central question was whether proposed amendments would constitute "substantive changes" requiring reintroduction of the budget ordinance. Thulin explained that "when you have 10 amendments that are you know some of which I'm seeing for the first time this evening to assess you know the impact on a budget in terms of what's required notice wise" created potential legal issues. Pennucci offered perspective from other jurisdictions: "It is normal practice to introduce an ordinance the council to discuss hold the public hearing and then amend. The legislative intent is to allow for a deliberative process where executive provides a proposal and you all discuss and adjust and ultimately vote on it." Councilmember Elenbaas expressed frustration with the legal complexity: "The substance of this is about a balanced budget and we're mandated by the law to do that and this is the only place that we can work on it because we can't work together as council members without having quorum issues which is also the law." The council ultimately decided to hold all budget-related public hearings open and refer the items to Committee of the Whole for November 18th, with final action scheduled for December 2nd. This approach would give staff time to prepare amended budget documents while ensuring proper public notice. ## Water Rights and Flood Control Tensions A smaller but significant controversy emerged during consideration of the Six-Year Water Resources Improvement Program (WRIP). Councilmember Donovan raised concerns about funding shifts that he characterized as breaking faith with taxpayers. Donovan argued that the Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility was created to provide "additional funding" for lake cleanup efforts, but that flood fund money previously dedicated to lake projects had been redirected elsewhere. "The utility was put on top of that to top up work there and those storm water dollars are gone," he explained. "People in Bellingham who probably don't otherwise benefit from the flood fund pay for that. The utility was put on top of that to top up work and increase progress towards meeting the 50-year goals for reducing phosphorus into the lake. That's how we sold the utility." Finance Director Randy Rydel provided historical context: "Ten years ago when I got here the stormwater projects on the lake were largely covered by REIT. We would typically see about six hundred fifty thousand dollars of REIT money and about forty to fifty thousand dollars of stormwater money. So at that time those capital projects were primarily funded by REIT funds not by the flood stormwater flow of money." Public Works Director Elizabeth Kosa acknowledged that they would need to examine all road fund expenditures if the council chose not to approve a 1% road fund increase, including WRIP projects. The program ultimately passed 5-2, with Donovan and Elenbaas voting against. ## Healthcare Costs and Corrections Challenges Among the evening's other significant actions was approval of a three-year, $22.9 million contract with Correctional Healthcare Partners for jail and juvenile detention health services. Councilmember Elenbaas, despite the high cost, supported the contract based on expected better outcomes: "When you have the option for better outcomes sometimes they cost a little bit more than what we've spent before and in my homework I did on this particular expenditure I believe that the better outcomes warrant that extra expenditure." Councilmember Scanlon noted that the contract consolidates approximately 16 separate agreements and includes hiring a new oversight position at the Sheriff's Office. He suggested periodic review: "Given that this is new contract a new vendor for our County I think would be great to come back in 6 12 18 months or so and say okay how are things going." Councilmember Donovan, while supporting the contract, expressed broader budget concerns: "We're increasing our costs 3.4 million dollars a year over the current level. We don't really have a plan going forward to cover that growing structural deficit probably unless we raise taxes or we come up with a commensurate 3.4 million dollars in cuts to other services." ## The Sheriff's Office Lease: A Reluctant Victory The council ultimately approved the Sheriff's Office lease agreement 6-0, with Councilmember Donovan abstaining due to potential conflicts of interest involving the property owner's service on county boards. Donovan explained his discomfort: "My concern about it is I think it's difficult for me to pass the lease that's directing funds to a former council member planning commissioner and current planning commission member." Councilmember Elenbaas strongly supported the lease: "Not only is this option feasible, it is hands down the best deal as far as their options are concerned. There is also nothing inappropriate about the contract. It is a great deal for the taxpayers and an even better deal for the Sheriff's Department." One dissenting voice came from Mary Kay Becker, who suggested the council was rushing into an expensive long-term commitment without adequate consideration of alternatives: "It does appear that what has happened here is that there's been a lot of turmoil and discussion over the years of how bad the sheriff's current quarters are and the need to find something new and then a building presents itself and all of a sudden that becomes the definition of what the solution should be." Deputy Executive Pennucci explained the selection process: "This building fits the specific needs they needed to fill" after extensive analysis of alternatives. The lease represents an annual cost of $750,000 for eight years, plus approximately $1.5 million in tenant improvements. ## Food Bank Relief and Looking Ahead The meeting concluded with a creative solution to provide immediate relief to food banks. Councilmember Scanlon proposed allowing food banks to access their 2026 funding early, effectively giving them 13 months to spend 12 months of funding. The council approved 5-0 a request for the executive to prepare a budget amendment enabling contract amendments for this purpose. Pennucci confirmed that the administration already had authority to make such changes: "It would be a no-dollar amendment and would not require new budget authority." ## Closing and What's Ahead The meeting adjourned at 10:06 PM after more than four hours of deliberation. Chair Galloway captured the evening's mood when she referenced the famous saying about watching the sausage get made: "I'm part Polish I love kielbasa so you know this is what democracy looks like." The council left several critical decisions for future meetings. The November 18th Committee of the Whole meeting will feature detailed discussion of budget amendments, with Galloway suggesting they start in the morning rather than afternoon to allow adequate time for staff to prepare any necessary substitute budget documents. Final budget action is scheduled for December 2nd. The evening revealed both the challenges and the humanity of local government. Faced with a structural budget deficit, competing demands for services, and the genuine needs of their community, the council members struggled to balance fiscal responsibility with public service. Whether addressing the food insecurity affecting one in five county residents, maintaining world-class emergency medical services, or providing decent working conditions for law enforcement, each decision carried real consequences for real people. As Hannah Ordos noted during public comment: "We need to do prioritization and outcome based planning. I think it's critical for this to be sustainable." The November 5th meeting demonstrated both how difficult such prioritization can be and why it's essential for effective governance.

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** WHA-CON-2025-11-05 ### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council met on November 5, 2025, to consider the county's 2026 budget and related tax levies. The meeting featured extensive public comment on budget priorities, particularly funding for EMS services, food banks, and the Sheriff's Office relocation, with council ultimately deferring final budget decisions to December 2nd. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Budget Amendment:** Changes proposed by council members to the executive's original budget proposal, including funding shifts between departments and programs. **Levy:** A tax imposed by the county on property owners to fund specific services like roads, EMS, or conservation programs. **Bank Capacity:** The difference between what voters have authorized a levy to collect and what is actually being collected, which can be used for additional funding without a new vote. **Flood Control Zone District:** A special district that collects taxes and manages stormwater and flood control projects throughout the county. **Conservation Futures:** A program that uses property tax revenue to purchase land or development rights for conservation purposes. **REET (Real Estate Excise Tax):** A tax collected when property is sold, often used to fund capital projects and infrastructure. **Community Priorities Fund:** Money from federal pandemic relief programs (ARPA/CARES) set aside for one-time community investments. **Structural Deficit:** An ongoing imbalance where expenses consistently exceed revenues, requiring either tax increases or spending cuts. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kaylee Galloway | Council Chair | | Todd Donovan | Council Member, Finance Committee Chair | | Jon Scanlon | Council Member | | Ben Elenbaas | Council Member | | Mark Stremler | Council Member | | Tyler Byrd | Council Member | | Barry Buchanan | Council Member | | Donnell Tanksley | Sheriff | | Aly Pennucci | Deputy County Executive | | Kimberly Thulin | Prosecuting Attorney's Office | ### Background Context Whatcom County faces significant financial challenges entering 2026, with a projected $7-8 million structural deficit. The county is simultaneously managing the costs of a new jail under construction, aging infrastructure needs, and growing demand for social services. Property values have increased substantially in recent years, generating more tax revenue even without rate increases, but this growth hasn't kept pace with rising costs for personnel, services, and materials. The Sheriff's Office has operated from basement facilities for decades, with documented problems including sewage leaks, mold, and inadequate space for modern law enforcement operations. Multiple council members proposed budget amendments to shift funding priorities, including support for food banks experiencing unprecedented demand due to economic pressures and federal benefit disruptions. ### What Happened — The Short Version The council introduced alternate tax levy proposals as backup options, then held public hearings on the 2026 budget where they heard extensive testimony supporting EMS funding, food bank assistance, and Sheriff's Office relocation. Council members presented proposed amendments including strategic planning funds, food bank support, and cuts to third-party facilitators. Rather than taking final action, they voted to continue all budget hearings to December 2nd, with amendment discussions scheduled for November 18th. They also approved a major healthcare contract for jail services and authorized the Sheriff's Office lease agreement. ### What to Watch Next - November 18th Committee of the Whole meeting for detailed budget amendment discussions - December 2nd Council meeting for final budget adoption and tax levy decisions - Implementation timeline for the new Sheriff's Office facility lease ---

## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Meeting ID:** WHA-CON-2025-11-05 **Q:** What is the total amount of the proposed 2026 Whatcom County budget amendment? **A:** $20,970,606 **Q:** How long has the Sheriff's Office been operating from basement facilities? **A:** Nearly 40 years, with the current location described as having sewage leaks, mold issues, and no natural light. **Q:** What is the annual cost of the proposed Sheriff's Office lease agreement? **A:** $750,000 per year for eight years, plus approximately $1.5 million in tenant improvements. **Q:** Which council member proposed using $200,000 for a county strategic plan? **A:** Jon Scanlon, who noted the county charter requires strategic planning but the county currently lacks performance metrics. **Q:** How much did food bank visits increase at the Nooksack Valley Food Bank between 2021 and 2024? **A:** From 3,880 visits in 2021 to 14,474 visits in 2024, nearly a four-fold increase. **Q:** What is Whatcom County's projected structural deficit? **A:** $7-8 million annually, requiring either tax increases or spending cuts to balance the budget. **Q:** How much is the three-year jail healthcare contract worth? **A:** $22,896,000 total, representing a $3.4 million annual increase over current spending. **Q:** What does "bank capacity" mean for the EMS levy? **A:** The difference between what voters authorized and what's currently collected, allowing additional funding without a new vote. **Q:** When will the council make final budget decisions? **A:** December 2nd, 2025, following committee discussions on November 18th. **Q:** How many people spoke during the public comment periods? **A:** Over 30 community members spoke on budget items and open session topics combined. **Q:** What is the Conservation Futures levy used for? **A:** Purchasing land or development rights to preserve open space and natural areas in the county. **Q:** Which department was proposed to have seasonal help cuts to fund food banks? **A:** Parks Department, with Mark Stremler proposing to cut $244,000 from seasonal help to redirect to food banks. **Q:** What vote count was needed for all the held budget items? **A:** 7-0 unanimous votes to hold all budget items and continue public hearings to December 2nd. **Q:** How much funding was requested for the Whatcom County Food Bank Network? **A:** Multiple speakers requested an additional $1 million for 2026 food purchases, on top of existing $750,000 allocation. **Q:** What specific building will house the new Sheriff's Office? **A:** 4600 Ryzex Way in Bellingham, leased from Ryanna LLC with adequate parking and infrastructure. ---