Bellingham approves new sales tax for policing, public safety. It starts in 2026
A one-tenth of 1% sales tax earmarked for policing and other public-safety programs will take effect Jan. 1, after the measure got final City Council approval on Monday night.
In voting unanimously for the third and final time, City Council members changed the name of the sales tax from one that referenced “public safety” to a “safe and stable community sales tax,” reacting to public criticism that it would bolster the Police Department.
Councilman Michael Lilliquist countered those critics, saying the extra money that is collected will free police funding and allow it to be used in other city departments.
“Some people were concerned about what this was to be used for. The purpose was not to add (police officers) but to prevent more serious cuts,” Lilliquist said. “With this funding, we don’t have to look for any cuts in any of these areas, and for that matter we don’t have to look for any cuts in any other parts if the city. The truth is that if we didn’t pass this tax we would loose anywhere from 25 to 30 positions.”
The tax can be used for several programs that fall under the label of public safety, including law enforcement, domestic violence, public defenders, re-entry work for offenders and crime-reduction measures.
Bellingham began considering the tax in August, in reaction to a looming $10 million deficit next year.
Such a tax would cost shoppers about 10 cents on a $100 purchase. It would raise about $3.9 million for a range of public safety services in 2026.
A new state law, HB 2015, allows local governments to impose such a tax for public safety and other uses if they meet certain criteria. The law also offers grants through the state Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Initial approval of the tax came in September.
“Let’s talk about the things we’re gonna lose if we don’t do this,” Hammill said during those discussions. “We’re gonna lose bike patrol, which is one of the more popular, well recognized community assets. The other piece that we could be losing is our upstream drug task force member, who is working on drug interdiction to prevent drugs from coming in to our community.”
Those two police units resumed recently after several years in mothballs because of a police staffing shortage.
