Washington State
› Whatcom County
› Ferndale
Ferndale
City government
· 14000 residents
· Updated Apr 16, 2026
$77M
2026 budget
↑6.9% vs prior year
185
Total FTEs
↑5 added
5
Active policies
In debate now
11
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
↳ responds-to
county
Enacted
Whatcom County Health Board — urge Legislature to maintain FPHS
AB2026-119
$3.6M/yr at risk · ~30 FTEs across health and environmental divisions
Loss of epidemiologists, environmental health staff, emergency preparedness capacity
Passed 7-0 PWHS Committee · forwarded to full Council · joins similar resolutions statewide
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
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
Nooksack River flood management — scope and funding
Pending vote
county
Near-term capital: $182M · system-wide: $474M · state budgeted $9–13M
county
Pending Vote
End of April 2026
Nooksack River flood management — scope and funding
AB2026-161 · 2026 state flood grants
Near-term capital: $182M · system-wide: $474M · state budgeted $9–13M
Flood risk to properties in Nooksack floodplain · levy/tax TBD
Executive deadline end of April 2026 · emergency ordinance authority under legal review
Budget intelligence
2026 adopted budget
Full history ↗
$77.0M
↑6.9% vs 2025
Top spending departments
Public Works
$22M
Police
$14M
Parks & Recreation
$7M
Fire & Emergency
$10M
General Government
$8M
Tax & fee register
What you pay · current rates
Property tax (city general levy)
per $1,000 assessed value
$1.5000
↑ 2025
PLACEHOLDER — verify from county assessor
Utility tax
on utility bills
6%
unchanged
PLACEHOLDER — verify rate + components
Recent briefings
Ferndale City Council
Mar 16, 2026
· Committee Meeting
City Council Committees
Mar 11, 2026
· Committee Meeting
Ferndale City Council
Mar 2, 2026
· Committee Meeting
City Council Committees
Feb 25, 2026
· Committee Meeting
Ferndale City Council
All briefings ↗
Feb 17, 2026
· Committee Meeting
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