Whatcom County considers new sales tax to bolster criminal justice funding
Whatcom County officials this week discussed a new sales tax to fund a broad range of criminal justice uses, similar to the tax that Bellingham enacted last year.
Such a sales tax of one-tenth of 1% would cost shoppers about 10 cents on a $100 purchase. It could raise $7 million annually, Jed Holmes of the County Executive’s Office said in a memo.
County Council members discussed the measure in committee and didn’t schedule it for a vote.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that the need is there,” Councilwoman Kaylee Galloway said during committee discussion Tuesday afternoon.
Councilman Ben Elenbaas said he doesn’t want to consider the new tax at a time when many Whatcom County residents are continuing to face higher costs for food, rent and other services.
“This whole entire (discussion of) we’re going to levy a tax is completely tone-deaf to everyone’s living situation right now, in my opinion. I cannot look my neighbor in the eye and say I’m coming back for to you more money (after) I’ve done such a good job of spending it for you. I can’t do it, and I won’t do it, so I will not support this at all,” Elenbaas said.
A state law passed in 2025 allows local governments to impose a sales tax of one-tenth of 1% earmarked for a range of public safety purposes — including domestic violence prevention, public defenders, re-entry work for offenders and crime-reduction measures, in addition to police funding, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting.
To be eligible to collect the tax, law enforcement agencies must meet certain criteria set by the state Legislature.
Sheriff Donnell Tanksley told the County Council that the Sheriff’s Office will be ready to meet the training criteria required to collect the tax by March 31. The law also offers grants through the state Criminal Justice Training Commission, and he said his office intends to apply for those funds.
Without the tax, “significant cuts” will have to be considered as county officials draft the budget for 2027-28, Whatcom County Deputy Executive Kayla Schott-Bresler told the County Council during a committee discussion Tuesday.
