The state gave local governments new taxes, and for one of them the first to act keeps it
Connection 5 · MoneyThe connection: In 2025 and 2026 the Legislature let cities and counties add small taxes without a public vote. Bellingham and Whatcom County both adopted the first one, a 0.1% sales tax for public safety and criminal justice, and other governments are adopting it now. The newest, a children and family services sales tax that starts Jan. 1, 2027, works differently: if both a city and its county adopt it, the county must credit the city's tax, so the government that acts first keeps the money. Neither Bellingham nor Whatcom County has acted on it.
- BellinghamAdopted Oct. 6, 2025The 0.1% public safety sales tax, adopted unanimously and in effect since January, was expected to raise almost $4M in its first year for programs such as community court, reentry and domestic violence services.
- Whatcom CountyAdopted April 14Its own 0.1% criminal justice sales tax (AB2026-255), after a version that would have sent it to voters failed. City and county taxes stack.
- Snohomish County and SpokaneAug. 12 and Oct. 14Snohomish County adopted the 0.1% tax 3-2, about $24M a year. The City of Spokane adopted it 6-1, more than $7M a year.
- King CountyAdopted Oct. 8The first large government to adopt the new children and family services sales tax, 6-3: 0.01%, up to $10M a year for shelter and services for children and families.
- Whatcom and Snohomish countiesProposed for 2027A third new tool lets counties move their veterans and mental health levies out of the general levy. Whatcom's proposed budget counts about $2.3M a year from it; Snohomish County's about $8.7M.