Washington State
› Whatcom County
› Bellingham
Bellingham
City government
· 95000 residents
· Updated Apr 16, 2026
$575M
2026 budget
↑6.5% vs prior year
1218
Total FTEs
↑28 added
5
Active policies
In debate now
97
Briefings filed
Since 2025
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CDC unilateral childhood vaccine schedule reduction
federal
Active
CDC unilateral childhood vaccine schedule reduction
Federal executive action · Jan 2026
Affects all CDC-funded county programs
Reduced federal health data systems; CDC VRFSS broken down
WA DOH and 12+ medical societies maintaining prior schedule
state
In Committee
2026-2027 biennium budget session
Governor's budget cuts FPHS funding by ~1/3
SB 6129 · SB 6116 · HB 2383 · HB 2439
$300M statewide projected → significant reduction
Food safety inspections, disease response, environmental health degraded
All four bills in executive committee · SB 6129 has most traction · vapor tax sourcing unresolved
Local mental health and housing sales tax authority
state
Enacted
Local mental health and housing sales tax authority
RCW 82.14.460
Enables up to 0.1% county sales tax
Authorization only — no cost until county acts
Existing statute · authorizes counties to levy up to 0.1% for 10 years
county
Pending Vote
Estimated May 2026
Whatcom County 0.1% sales tax — mental health and housing services
Proposed ordinance · FAS reviewed Feb 24 2026
$12.4M/yr estimated revenue · 10-year duration
~$100–$150/yr per household at median spend
Full Council vote estimated May 2026 · 5-2 committee pattern on fiscal items
↳ authorized-by
city
Watch
After county vote
City-level collection and service allocation
Anticipated — all Whatcom cities
TBD by interlocal
Same household cost as county — collected at point of sale
No city action yet · county collects · individual allocations TBD
Lake Whatcom Watershed Protection Fee — financial structure
Under investigation
special-district
~$103M collected since 2001 · <6% of legally required phosphorus reduction
special-district
Under Investigation
Lake Whatcom Watershed Protection Fee — financial structure
WAC 173-201A · City/County watershed interlocal
~$103M collected since 2001 · <6% of legally required phosphorus reduction
~$84/yr residential fee · self-reinforcing borrowing loop documented
Pre-publication notice sent to Council + Mayor + Finance Director Apr 8 2026
Budget intelligence
2026 adopted budget
Full history ↗
$575.0M
↑6.5% vs 2025
Top spending departments
Public Works
$182M
Police
$63M
Parks & Recreation
$33M
Fire
$38M
Planning & Development
$20M
Tax & fee register
What you pay · current rates
Property tax (city general levy)
per $1,000 assessed value
$1.8710
↑ 2025
Business & Occupation (B&O) tax
of gross receipts
0.17%
unchanged
PLACEHOLDER — confirm current rate
Utility tax
on utility bills
6%
unchanged
PLACEHOLDER — verify components included
Parks impact fee (new construction)
per single-family dwelling
$4,125
+proposed
PLACEHOLDER — verify current
Recent briefings
City of Bellingham Committee of the Whole
Mar 23, 2026
· Committee of the Whole
Bellingham City Council Parks and Recreation Committee
Mar 23, 2026
· Parks & Recreation Committee
Bellingham City Council - Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee
Mar 23, 2026
· Public Health & Safety Committee
City of Bellingham Public Works and Natural Resources Committee
Mar 23, 2026
· Public Works Committee
Bellingham City Council Budget and Finance Committee
All briefings ↗
Mar 23, 2026
· Budget & Finance Committee
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Real Briefings™ · realhousingreform.org