### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council met as a Special Committee of the Whole on July 29, 2025, to discuss the Healthy Children's Fund implementation plan for years 3 and 4 (2025-2026). This was an interactive session where county staff presented funding strategies and council members provided policy direction on priorities and allocations for the voter-approved levy that funds early learning and childcare programs. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Implementation Plan:** The detailed roadmap outlining how Healthy Children's Fund dollars will be spent over two-year periods, including specific strategies, funding allocations, and expected outcomes. **Vulnerable Children:** Children experiencing homelessness, abuse, neglect, or other at-risk situations. The ordinance requires 20-36% of levy funds support this population, though no specific definition exists in the ordinance. **Early Learning Hubs:** Regional centers providing shared administrative services, co-located childcare and support services, and assistance for smaller providers across the county. **Capital Projects:** Building construction, renovation, or repurposing to create new childcare slots, funded through specific RFPs. **Drop-in Childcare:** Flexible care services allowing parents to book short-term childcare online for job interviews, errands, or other needs. **Fund Balance:** Accumulated levy revenue not yet spent, currently projected at $11 million by end of 2025. **RFP:** Request for Proposals - the process used to award contracts for specific services or projects. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kaylee Galloway | Council Chair, District 2 | | Jill Boudreau | Senior Policy & Project Manager, Executive's Office | | Sarah Simpson | Child & Family Programs Supervisor, Health & Community Services | | Ann Beck | Community Health & Human Services Manager | | Barry Buchanan | Council Member, District 1 | | Tyler Byrd | Council Member, District 1 | | Todd Donovan | Council Member, District 2 | | Ben Elenbaas | Council Member, District 5 | | Jon Scanlon | Council Member, District 3 | | Mark Stremler | Council Member, District 7 | ### Background Context The Healthy Children's Fund was approved by Whatcom County voters as a property tax levy to address critical gaps in early childhood education and childcare. The ordinance is highly prescriptive, requiring specific percentages go to early learning/childcare (55-68%) versus vulnerable children support (20-36%), with 9% allowed for administration. After 28 months of implementation, staff have contracted $7.9 million across 37 active contracts, creating 259 new childcare slots and 192 drop-in care slots monthly. However, an $11 million fund balance has accumulated, raising questions about spending pace and strategy effectiveness. ### What Happened — The Short Version County staff presented the current state of the Healthy Children's Fund and proposed strategies for 2025-2026. Council members participated in an interactive prioritization exercise using stickers to indicate which of 10 strategies their districts most needed. The clear winner was capital projects for building new childcare facilities, followed by housing support for vulnerable families and subsidies to reduce childcare costs. Several council members expressed frustration that only one strategy directly creates new childcare slots, despite this being the primary voter expectation. Staff proposed increasing early learning funding from 62% to 68% while decreasing vulnerable children support from 29% to 23%. The session revealed significant council interest in focusing on fewer, more impactful strategies rather than spreading funds across 10 different approaches. ### What to Watch Next • Staff will meet individually with council members to discuss district-specific priorities and refine the implementation plan • Council will reconvene in fall 2025 for formal adoption of the 2025-2026 implementation plan • Independent audit results due by December 2025 will provide external evaluation of fund performance • Major RFPs for capital projects ($7.6 million) and subsidies are launching, representing significant fund acceleration ---