Sales tax measure to help pay for the construction of a new Whatcom County jail

Whatcom County would issue a bond to pay for the construction of the facility since the full amount needed cannot be raised immediately.

Those bonds would be backed by a voter-approved sales tax that would be on the November 2023 General Election ballot. The Council-approved ordinance involves a two-tenths of one percent levy rate (20 cents on a $100 purchase) which is estimated to raise $13.1 million per year.

If approved by voters in November, collection would begin in 2024. The sales tax would be levied under RCW82.14.450.

As required by state statute, the funds raised under this tax can ONLY be used for public safety costs. These are expenditures such as policing, firefighting, and more specifically, justice facilities and services, including behavioral health, and correctional facilities and programs.

The ordinance requires that “the primary purpose of initial expenditures shall be to construct a jail and behavioral health facilities needed to promote public health and safety. Proceeds shall also support the expansion of incarceration reduction programs, access to behavioral health services, re-entry services, supportive housing, diversion, and accountability measures to monitor progress and inform future planning.”

They cannot be used on expenditures such as roads, transit, or parks.

The County estimates construction would begin in 2026.

Image: From Wikipedia’s article on Municipal Bonds