The County Council made its first 11 changes to the 2027-2028 budget, and the budget itself is still not adopted
What happened: On Oct. 20, the County Council held a special meeting on the County Executive's recommended 2027-2028 budget. The draft minutes record 11 approved changes. These are votes on proposed amendments, not an adopted budget.
The changes the draft minutes record: four entry-level deputies plus one deputy in training (4-3); a new hearing examiner services contract (6-1); $42,379 a year restored for senior centers from the Community Priorities Fund (6-0, one member absent); a $100,000 fee study for Planning and Development Services and a $200,000 development code review, both from the Community Priorities Fund (5-2 each); $15,000 for the Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence in 2027 and 2028 (5-2); $25,000 for the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission in 2027 (5-2); a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes pilot for fire districts that respond on federal land (6-1); $50,000 for a budget and data system platform (7-0); and a budget data subcommittee (7-0).
A motion to restore $5,000 for Councilmember travel failed 3-4. Amendments on food banks were held for the next week.
Why it matters: each approved line changes what the County plans to spend in the next two years, and the final budget has not been voted on. See the County budget row and Connection 4.
Update, Oct. 27: The County Council made three more changes to its 2027-2028 budget plan, the draft minutes record. It voted 4 to 2, with 1 abstaining, to add $862,000 a year for food help, from a County savings balance. It voted 7 to 0 to pay for a Meridian child care contract from the Healthy Children's Fund instead. The minutes say that frees about $2 million. A plan to add 2 sheriff's deputies failed, 3 to 4. Staff estimated each deputy costs about $140,000 a year. The budget itself is still not adopted.
Nov. 5 update: the County Council's Nov. 10 agenda introduces the final 2027-2028 budget.
The same agenda introduces the 2027-2028 fee schedule and 8 property tax measures for 2027.
They include the County's general tax, roads, emergency medical service, mental health, veterans, conservation, flood control and the Lummi Island ferry.
It also lists a $2,479,543 change to the 2026 budget.
Introduction is the first step. The agenda does not say when the Council votes.
What's next: a Council committee discusses the budget Tue. Nov. 10 at 9 a.m. The full Council meets at 6 p.m.