Whatcom County's 2027–28 budget
Whatcom County Council · AB2026-687The County Executive's recommended two-year spending plan, with a general fund 7% below 2026. Next: Nov. 10, introduction. The County Council agenda lists the final 2027–28 budget for introduction at 6 p.m., and the Finance and Administrative Services Committee agenda lists a discussion at 9 a.m.
What we get, the trade-off, what's next
What we get
The Executive says the plan aims to bring spending back to prepandemic levels. It cuts 35 full-time positions, most of them vacant, on top of 19 cut this year, and expects a handful of layoffs in 2027. Funding for food bank networks and senior centers drops back to prepandemic levels (Cascadia Daily News, Sept. 2).
What it costs
−7% General fund compared with 2026
Without action, the County projected deficits of $8.3 million in 2027 and $14.3 million in 2028. The plan leans on new revenue: about $7 million a year from the 0.1% criminal justice and public safety sales tax passed in April, about $3.1 million a year from the Flood Control Zone District's banked capacity, about $2.3 million a year from separating the veterans and mental health levies from the general fund levy, and $5.7 million in 2027 from a new ferry district (Cascadia Daily News, Sept. 2).
The trade-off
Without the new sales tax: County Executive Satpal Sidhu said it spares the County another 40 to 50 layoffs. Local groups asked the health department for $27 million for housing and homelessness in 2027; the department has $14 million to allocate (Cascadia Daily News, Sept. 2).
Timeline
- Sept. 1County Executive submits the recommended budget
- Sept. 15Department budget presentations to the Council begin, through Oct. 6
- Oct. 20Council special meeting: 11 motions approved, one creating a budget data and transparency subcommittee and one holding food bank amendments 13, 14 and 15 a week; the Action Summary prints no vote tallies (County Action Summary)
- Oct. 27Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee approved two budget motions: moving Meridian childcare center funding from the Community Priorities Fund to the Healthy Children's Fund, 7-0; and food insecurity amendment 14, $862,000 a year from the Community Priorities balance, 4-2 with one abstention. The budget is not adopted yet (County Action Summary)
- Nov. 10Final 2027–28 budget on the agendas: committee discussion at 9 a.m. and introduction at the Council at 6 p.m. (AB2026-797 and AB2026-795)
- NovemberCouncil adoption vote expected (Cascadia Daily News)
How to weigh in: The County has not posted its budget hearing dates on the agenda yet.
The question: What is the general fund total, and how many layoffs does the 2027 plan carry?
County item AB2026-687 · Oct. 20 Action Summary · Finance committee Action Summary, Oct. 27 · Cascadia Daily News, Sept. 2
Stories about this decision
This page is permanent: it keeps this decision's record at one address, from first proposal to the day it takes effect, with each update dated. Every decision we follow · Coming up