Who provides your services is being redrawn
Connection 1 · Growth & boundariesThe connection: Four places are changing who provides a public service, and each change moves who pays and who answers for it. Blaine's deal caps the city's share of a road bill at $250,000. Birch Bay's would create a new government that a county-funded study projects would run almost $2 million a year short. Skagit is betting a nonprofit can raise grant money a county can't, a model Whatcom has used in Bellingham for years. The Blaine and Birch Bay changes both go before Whatcom's A five-member state-created board that reviews annexations, new cities and other boundary changes. Its members are appointed by the County, the Governor, the county's mayors and its special districts., which is missing two of its five members (the story).
- Blainecity to countyDeal approved Oct. 6Voters approved returning a large eastern area to unincorporated Whatcom. Blaine and the County settled who fixes its 1.5-mile road: Blaine pays 20%, capped at $250,000.
- Birch Baycounty to new city?Background Sept. 17A local group voted Sept. 17 to begin the process of becoming a city. A county-funded study projected a deficit of almost $2 million a year. The group says different assumptions show a surplus.
- Skagitcounty to nonprofitHandoff in OctoberThe Skagit Council on Aging takes over the Mount Vernon senior center this month. The county says a nonprofit can raise grant money governments can't.
- Whatcomalready contractedBackground since 2017Whatcom County has paid the Whatcom Council on Aging to staff and run the County-owned Bellingham Senior Activity Center since at least 2017. Other County senior centers run under contracts with cities and local groups.