ACTION TAKEN The Whatcom County Council adopted the following at its December 2, 2025 meeting: RESOLUTION (2025-042) ADOPTING THE 2026 BUDGET FOR THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT AND SUBZONES (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2025-711): This resolution, in accordance with RCW 86.15.140, adopts the 2026 budget for the countywide district and the following subzones: Acme/Van Zandt Subzone; Lynden/Everson Subzone; Sumas/Nooksack/Everson Subzone; Samish Watershed Subzone; Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management District. Resolution introduced October 21, 2025. RESOLUTION (2025-043) AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT FOR 2026 (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2025-784): This resolution, in accordance with RCW 68.15.160(3) limits the levy of taxes for the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District in 2026 to the amount of 2025 taxes. The dollar amount of the increase shall be $0, which is a percentage increase of 0% from the previous year exclusive of additional revenue resulting from new construction, improvements to property, newly constructed wind turbines, solar, biomass, and geothermal facilities, and any increase in the value of state assessed property, any annexations that have occurred and refunds made. Resolution introduced November 5, 2025. ORDINANCE (2025-055) AMENDING THE 2026 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 1 IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,970,606 (AB2025-707): This ordinance amends the 2026 Whatcom County Budget to add appropriations to the following budgets: Assessor ($37,595); District Court Probation ($28,633); Executive ($52,527); Juvenile ($1,040,000); Non-Departmental ($5,778,508); Planning & Development Services ($197,495); Prosecuting Attorney ($156,085); Public Defender ($560,000); Superior Court ($329,722); Countywide Emergency Medical Services Fund ($312,000); Whatcom County Trial Court Improvement Fund ($60,000); Conservation Futures Fund ($42,820); Community Priorities Fund ($5,000,000); Whatcom County Jail Fund ($4,200,318); Emergency Management Fund ($9,110); Parks Special Revenue Fund ($145,000); Solid Waste Fund ($135,204); Healthy Children's Fund ($374,342); Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility Fund ($57,250); Real Estate Excise Tax II Fund ($514,000); Real Estate Excise Tax I Fund ($410,000); Public Utilities Improvement Fund ($6,956,785); Administrative Services Fund ($1,473,887); Equipment Rental & Revolving Fund ($973,000) for a total supplement of $20,970,606. To view the entire ordinance, contact the Council Office at (360)778-5010 or visit our Legislative Information Center at whatcom.legistar.com. Ordinance introduced October 21, 2025. ORDINANCE (2025-056) AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR CONSERVATION FUTURES PURPOSES FOR 2026 (AB2025-719): This ordinance, in accordance with Whatcom County Home Rule Charter Section 6.10, authorizes an increase in the levy of taxes for Conservation Futures purposes in 2026. The dollar amount of the increase over the actual levy amount from the previous year shall be $14,179, which is a percentage increase of 1% from the previous year exclusive of additional revenue resulting from new construction, improvements to property, newly constructed wind turbines, solar, biomass, and geothermal facilities, and any increase in the value of state assessed property, any annexations that have occurred and refunds made. Ordinance introduced October 21, 2025. ORDINANCE (2025-057) AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR COUNTY ROAD PURPOSES FOR 2026 (AB2025-721): This ordinance, in accordance with Whatcom County Home Rule Charter Section 6.10, authorizes an increase in the levy of taxes for County Road purposes in 2026. The dollar amount of the increase over the actual levy amount from the previous year shall be $246,923, which is a percentage increase of 1% from the previous year exclusive of additional revenue resulting from new construction, improvements to property, newly constructed wind turbines, solar, biomass, and geothermal facilities, and any increase in the value of state assessed property, any annexations that have occurred and refunds made. Ordinance introduced October 21, 2025. ORDINANCE (2025-058) AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR COUNTYWIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL PURPOSES FOR 2026 (AB2025-723): This ordinance authorizes an increase in the levy of taxes for countywide emergency medical purposes in 2026. The dollar amount of the increase over the actual levy amount from the previous year shall be $2,698,925, which is a percentage increase of 19.9% from the previous year exclusive of additional revenue resulting from new construction, improvements to property, newly constructed wind turbines, solar, biomass, and geothermal facilities, and any increase in the value of state assessed property, any annexations that have occurred and refunds made. Ordinance introduced October 21, 2025. ORDINANCE (2025-059) AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR COUNTY AND STATE PURPOSES IN WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON FOR THE YEAR OF 2026 (AB2025-725): This ordinance authorizes an increase the County general levy to be collected in the 2026 tax year. The dollar amount of the increase over the actual levy amount from the previous year shall be $387,351, which is a percentage increase of 1% from the previous year exclusive of additional revenue resulting from new construction, improvements to property, newly constructed wind turbines, solar, biomass, and geothermal facilities, and any increase in the value of state assessed property, any annexations that have occurred and refunds made. Taxes levied against parcels of property within the Diking Districts, Drainage Districts, and Drainage Improvement Districts are to be credited to the individual maintenance funds for the year 2026, and the amounts to be apportioned to the original assessments for construction in said districts are per Exhibit A of the ordinance. Ordinance introduced October 21, 2025. Public documents are available for review weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Council Office, 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 105, Bellingham, and at whatcomcounty.us/council. View meeting schedules, agendas, minutes, videos, documents and archives at whatcom.legistar.com. The Council is currently holding hybrid meetings, which can be attended either in person or remotely. Full Council meetings begin at 6 p.m. (unless otherwise announced) in the Council Chambers at 311 Grand Avenue. Instructions for remote participation can be found at www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil or by contacting the Council Office at 360-778-5010. The Council Chambers is handicapped accessible. People with special needs who will be attending Council meetings are asked to contact the Council Office (360-778-5010) at least 96 hours in advance. IPL0297027 Dec 10 2025