# When Every Dollar Counts: Council Wrestles with Food Bank Funding and Sheriff's Office Space The morning of October 28, 2025, began with an unusual sight in the Whatcom County Council chambers. Chair Kaylee Galloway had yet to arrive due to car trouble, leaving Vice Chair Jon Scanlon to open the special Committee of the Whole meeting at 9:01 AM. It was a fitting start to what would become an hour-long discussion about difficult choices, competing priorities, and the fundamental question of what county government should and shouldn't fund. All seven council members were present for this hybrid meeting, gathering to continue deliberations on the county's proposed $20.9 million mid-biennium budget adjustment. But the conversation quickly focused on two items not originally anticipated to dominate the agenda: emergency food assistance and a controversial office lease. ## The Food Crisis Hits Home The discussion began when Council Member Todd Donovan raised a pressing concern that had been weighing on him and others: the looming crisis facing local food banks. With federal SNAP benefits set to be cut on November 1st, and the WIC program also facing potential reductions, food banks across the county were bracing for an unprecedented surge in demand. "I might have interest in the council having a discussion about taking some of that money as a one-time expense to help the food bank further in this biennium," Donovan said, referring to the Community Priorities Fund that the executive was proposing to reallocate. Deputy Executive Aly Panucci acknowledged the challenge, noting that while food bank services were technically eligible for Community Priorities Fund spending, the county had already allocated $750,000 to the food bank for 2026 — well short of the $2 million the organization had requested. Council Member Barry Buchanan immediately chimed in with supporting data that painted a stark picture: "Due to the fact that we're losing federal funding for SNAP November 1st, there's going to be, I think it's $4 million a month people on food stamps. There's going to be a huge demand." The human dimension of this crisis became even clearer when Council Member John Scanlon shared information from recent meetings: "About half of households in the county are eligible for WIC. So it's a lot of people. And our food bank can't absorb that increased demand. And the other stories I'm seeing is no food bank in the country can increase, can absorb that increased demand." ## The Fiscal Reality Check But the conversation took a sobering turn when Council Member Tyler Byrd laid out the harsh fiscal mathematics facing the county. His words carried the weight of someone who had seen this pattern before. "We already know that there's going to be five proposed tax increases this year, and that money is allocated into this budget and already spent," Byrd said. "So we can't go back and take more. We can't increase taxes. We've already increased it because we're taking the 1% and taking the levy capacity potentially for the EMS as well. So if we want to do this, where's the money going to come from?" Byrd then delivered what may have been the meeting's most pointed argument against what he saw as well-intentioned but fiscally dangerous thinking: "We are looking at reallocating the money that's in the Community Priority Fund for capital projects. And if we don't put it towards that, where's that money going to come from? All we're doing is pushing it down the road." Drawing on the council's experience from their first term, Byrd painted a picture of deferred maintenance costs compounding like interest: "It's the same thing that we ran into when we took office the first time, right? Which is a huge backlog of deferred maintenance costs on the courthouse, on the jail, on everything else that, just like your house or your car, you don't change your oil, you keep driving it, keep driving it, keep driving it, what's going to happen? The engine's going to seize up. Now instead of a $100 oil change, you're having to buy a new vehicle." His conclusion was stark: "Every tax increase we do, it falls on the same people that we're trying to help. You drive the costs up, you make them worse by deferring them, compounding them, and then we increase the taxes higher and higher and higher to pay them off and make up that gain. It's a never-ending spiral." ## Creative Solutions and Alternative Approaches Byrd wasn't content to simply say no, however. He offered concrete alternative approaches that reflected his business background: "I've talked to a couple of food banks about like, hey, can we expand your community gardens to help get more locations for growing food? Can we introduce you to what grocery stores do you not currently have relationships with, where we can go help you talk to them and see about getting expired food... How do we make them stable again on their own without necessarily having to come back to us?" Meanwhile, other council members explored different funding mechanisms. Scanlon raised the possibility of using the Healthy Children's Fund, which had previously supported food security initiatives. Jill Boudreau from the executive's office confirmed that "money has gone to the food bank from the Healthy Children's Fund through the vulnerable children's allocation." Ann Beck from Community Health & Human Services provided important context about the trade-offs involved: "There's funding that will be used for subsidies, which is an additional $300 per family for child care. There's capital RFP that is getting ready to be awarded too. So expansion of child care slots with capital expenses." ## The Sheriff's Office Lease Controversy As the food bank discussion continued, another contentious issue emerged: the executive's announcement of a proposed lease for sheriff's office space from former council member Rud Browne. The timing of the announcement — just before the meeting and ahead of the election — raised questions about process and priorities. Donovan's pointed question captured the tension: "We can't find money for the food bank and the community priorities fund, but we can find money to enter into a lease with a former council member and send that money to him?" Panucci explained the executive's rationale: "The council provided pretty clear direction that there was a priority to address the sheriff's office space needs earlier this year." She noted that law enforcement was a core county function under state law, while food bank funding was not. The proposed arrangement would use approximately $750,000 from capital reserves for the first year of the lease, with base rent of just over $500,000 annually. This would come from either existing capital reserves or the proposed $3.5 million transfer from the Community Priorities Fund. ## Personal Stakes and Ethical Considerations The discussion took on added complexity when Council Member Ben Elenbaas disclosed a potential conflict of interest: his wife served on the board of the Blaine Food Bank. His comments reflected the personal difficulty many officials face when policy intersects with community connections. "I want to fund the food bank, like, it feels good. And my wife's a board member for the Blaine Food Bank. And so I obviously hear about the need all the time," Elenbaas said. But he also voiced concerns about the precedent being set: "I guess my concern is that our tax structure isn't set up for us to fund the food bank. And if we then allocate our county dollars to the food bank, something else that we're supposed to provide is going to suffer." Elenbaas suggested a more cautious approach: shorter-term, smaller amounts that could bridge the gap without creating long-term commitments the county couldn't sustain. He also expressed hope that federal officials would "pull their heads out at some point and fix the situation." Deputy Executive Panucci took a moment to acknowledge the human element behind the budget numbers: "I too wish that we were recommending funding the food bank. So just want to put that out there because I feel like it might be being construed incorrectly. I think we would all want to do that. This is really difficult. I also feel like we've been asked to stabilize the budget and plan for the future and all of those things." ## Searching for Middle Ground As the discussion wore on, it became clear that council members were genuinely wrestling with finding a path forward that could address the immediate crisis without jeopardizing long-term fiscal health. Council Member Mark Stremler suggested looking more closely at the Healthy Children's Fund, which he described as "financially pretty healthy." The conversation revealed the complexity of modern local government finance. The proposed capital reserve of $3.5 million wasn't earmarked for specific projects but was intended to give the county flexibility to respond quickly to opportunities — whether purchasing buildings, addressing maintenance needs, or handling unexpected costs. As Chair Galloway noted when she arrived mid-meeting (apologizing for her automotive troubles), they were dealing with competing needs that far exceeded available resources. The discussion about reallocating $500,000 from the $3.5 million capital reserve to food banks illustrated this perfectly: it wouldn't solve either problem completely, but it might provide meaningful help in the near term. ## The Procedural Cleanup The meeting's second agenda item provided a stark contrast to the substantive policy debates over food banks and sheriff's offices. County attorney Kimberly Thulin had to address a procedural problem from the previous meeting, where council members had inadvertently taken actions on urban growth area proposals that exceeded their legal authority. The issue highlighted the complexity of local government procedure. What council members had intended as preliminary guidance to the planning commission had been worded as formal approvals, putting them in legal jeopardy. Council Member Byrd attempted to begin the process of rescinding those actions, but time constraints and special meeting rules prevented immediate resolution. "The actions that we took previously, based on the way we took them and based on the way that they are defined in the meeting minutes, which is motions to approve the UGAs, those were illegal actions that were taken outside of what is allowed by code," Byrd explained. "So we have to correct that period." The procedural tangle illustrated how even well-intentioned council actions could create legal complications when proper procedures weren't followed precisely. ## Looking Ahead As the meeting concluded at 9:55 AM, Chair Galloway outlined next steps for the budget deliberation process. The council would have another opportunity to discuss amendments on November 5th, with a public hearing providing additional community input. Amendment proposals would need to be submitted by November 18th to allow for proper vetting and discussion. The meeting ended with a sense of unfinished business on multiple fronts. The food bank funding question remained unresolved, with council members asking staff to explore options that might combine Healthy Children's Fund money, Community Priorities Fund reallocation, and other creative approaches. The sheriff's office lease would move forward through separate processes, though its budget implications remained tied to the broader mid-biennium adjustment discussions. Perhaps most significantly, the meeting illustrated the fundamental tension facing local governments nationwide: how to balance immediate human needs with long-term fiscal sustainability. As federal support systems face cuts and local demands grow, councils like Whatcom County's must make increasingly difficult choices about what services they can and should provide. The passion in council members' voices — whether arguing for fiscal discipline or immediate human need — reflected genuine care for the community they serve. But as Deputy Executive Panucci noted, "there are a lot of needs and not enough dollars." The challenge ahead would be finding the right balance between compassion and fiscal responsibility, between addressing today's crisis and preparing for tomorrow's challenges. The next chapter of this budget story would unfold at the November 5th meeting, where council members would return with potential amendments and hopefully some creative solutions to help both the county's capital needs and its most vulnerable residents. The stakes couldn't be higher: with winter approaching and federal cuts looming, the decisions made in the coming weeks would directly affect thousands of county residents' ability to put food on their tables.

### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council held a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on October 28, 2025, focusing primarily on mid-biennium budget adjustments totaling over $20 million. The session was dominated by discussions about potential funding for food banks amid federal SNAP benefit cuts and procedural corrections needed for previous comprehensive plan actions. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Mid-biennium adjustment:** A formal process to modify the county's two-year budget partway through the budget cycle to address changing financial conditions or priorities. **Community Priorities Fund:** A county fund that can be used for general government expenditures, originally created using federal ARPA dollars for specific community priorities. **Capital Reserve Fund:** A fund proposed to be established with $3.5 million to provide cash on hand for facility needs and allow the county to act swiftly on capital projects. **SNAP benefits:** Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that provides food assistance; cuts to this program create increased demand on local food banks. **Urban Growth Area (UGA):** Designated areas where urban development is encouraged under the state Growth Management Act; requires formal county approval processes. **REAP funding:** Real Estate Acquisition and Projects fund used for capital improvements and facility needs. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kaylee Galloway | Council Chair | | Jon Scanlon | Council Vice Chair (running meeting remotely) | | Todd Donovan | Council Member | | Tyler Byrd | Council Member | | Ben Elenbaas | Council Member | | Barry Buchanan | Council Member | | Mark Stremler | Council Member | | Aly Panucci | Deputy Executive | | Kayla Schott-Bresler | Deputy Executive | | Kimberly Thulin | Prosecuting Attorney (legal counsel) | | Cathy Halka | Clerk of the Council | ### Background Context This meeting occurred amid a federal government shutdown that eliminated SNAP benefits starting November 1st, creating an urgent crisis for local food banks already serving about half of county households. The county had previously allocated $750,000 for food bank support in 2026, far short of the $2 million requested. Additionally, the county faces ongoing facility needs including space for the Sheriff's Office, which requires a proposed lease with a former council member. The council is working to balance immediate community needs against long-term fiscal sustainability while avoiding the deferred maintenance problems that plagued previous administrations. ### What Happened — The Short Version Deputy Executive Panucci presented follow-up information on budget adjustments, including a detailed breakdown of vacant county positions. Council members engaged in extensive discussion about reallocating funds from the Community Priorities Fund to support food banks facing increased demand due to federal SNAP cuts. Several council members expressed interest in finding one-time funding for food banks, exploring options including the Community Priorities Fund, Healthy Children's Fund, and general reserves. The discussion revealed tensions between immediate community needs and long-term capital planning. The meeting also addressed procedural corrections needed for previous UGA approval motions, but these were postponed to the next meeting due to special meeting limitations. ### What to Watch Next - November 5th Committee of the Whole meeting will include continued budget discussions and proper procedural corrections for UGA motions - Amendment process for budget changes, with deadline before November 18th meeting - Final budget action scheduled for December 2nd after public hearing - Implementation plan for Healthy Children's Fund coming November 5th - Potential lease approval for Sheriff's Office space ---

**Q:** What is the total amount of the proposed mid-biennium budget adjustment? **A:** $20,970,606 for the 2026 Whatcom County budget amendment. **Q:** How much has the county already allocated for food bank support in 2026? **A:** $750,000, compared to the food bank's request for $2 million. **Q:** When do federal SNAP benefits end, creating increased food bank demand? **A:** November 1st, 2025, affecting approximately half of county households. **Q:** What is the proposed amount for the new Capital Reserve Fund? **A:** $3.5 million, to be added to the existing $1 million in capital facilities reserves. **Q:** Who is running the meeting and why? **A:** Council Vice Chair Jon Scanlon is running it remotely because Chair Galloway had car problems. **Q:** What fund could potentially be used to support food banks? **A:** The Community Priorities Fund, which can be used for general government expenditures. **Q:** How much money is currently in the capital facilities reserve fund? **A:** About $1 million, with the proposal to add $3.5 million more. **Q:** What is the estimated annual cost of the proposed Sheriff's Office lease? **A:** Approximately $750,000 total including base rent of just over $500,000. **Q:** How many positions is the Sheriff's Office freezing to achieve budget savings? **A:** Nine positions to achieve $1 million in savings. **Q:** What percentage of county households are eligible for WIC benefits? **A:** Approximately half of households in the county are eligible. **Q:** What procedural issue arose with previous UGA motions? **A:** Council made "motions to approve" UGAs when they should have only provided preliminary guidance. **Q:** When is the next Committee of the Whole meeting scheduled? **A:** November 5th, which will include continued budget and UGA discussions. **Q:** What is one alternative funding source mentioned for food bank support? **A:** The Healthy Children's Fund, which has previously supported food security through vulnerable children's allocation. **Q:** What is the deadline for budget amendments to be submitted? **A:** In time for discussion at the November 18th meeting. **Q:** When is final budget action scheduled? **A:** December 2nd, following the public hearing. **Q:** What is Ben Elenbaas's potential conflict of interest? **A:** His wife serves on the board of the Blaine Food Bank. **Q:** What specific amount did Council Member Donovan suggest for food bank support? **A:** A one-time allocation of $500,000. **Q:** What facility needs were mentioned for the Capital Reserve Fund? **A:** Sheriff's Office space, new morgue, Northwest Annex alternatives, and additional space for courts and other departments. **Q:** What happens if the lease is approved but budget authority is denied? **A:** The Sheriff's Office would have to absorb costs from their existing budget authority. **Q:** What was the meeting's end time? **A:** 9:55 a.m., exactly as scheduled for the hybrid format. ---