Closing the Low-Income Housing fund
Whatcom County Council · AB2026-732Closes the County's Low-Income Housing Fund (1851) and moves its $460,631 balance into the Homeless Housing Fund (1852). It was adopted 7-0 on Oct. 27 (Ordinance 2026-055). Next: No further step is scheduled in the record. This entry is resolved and stays here for 30 days from Oct. 27, until about Nov. 26.
What we get, the trade-off, what's next
What we get
The fund was created in 2002 (Ordinance 2002-078) to hold a share of document recording fees for low-income and affordable housing. State law later combined those recording fees under RCW 36.22.250, which gives the County a 30% share for homeless housing and housing for extremely low- and very low-income households. The County already runs that money through its Homeless Housing Fund (1852), so it says keeping a separate fund is no longer needed for its housing programs.
What it costs
$460,631 Balance moved to the Homeless Housing Fund
No new spending. The fund's cash balance, about $460,631, moves to the Homeless Housing Fund (1852), and the ordinance says all legal limits on how the money can be used still apply after the transfer.
The trade-off
If it passes: Fund 1851 closes and its balance joins Fund 1852, with the same legal limits on use (proposed ordinance).
Timeline
- Oct. 13Introduced at County Council
- Oct. 27Adopted 7-0 at the Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee, Ordinance 2026-055 (County Action Summary)
The question: Will the $460,631 go to the same kinds of low-income housing projects it was collected for, or to homeless housing programs more broadly?
Proposed ordinance · County item AB2026-732 · Finance committee Action Summary, Oct. 27
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