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https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAWHATCOMCO/bulletins/3ecc362
August 12, 2025
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 Charter Review Commissioners listen to public comment at a meeting.
In July, the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission formally approved the transmittal of 12 proposed charter amendments to the County Council for submission to the Auditor and inclusion on the November ballot.
County voters can expect to see the following proposed charter amendments on their ballots this fall:
- Authorizing Councilmembers to Hire Dedicated Aides
- Establishing a Whatcom County Office of the Ombuds
- Establishing Performance Audits
- Clarifying the Power and Duties of Elected Officials
- Modifying the Redistricting Process
- Adjusting the Calculation of Signatures Required for a Referendum
- Prohibiting County Government from Interfering with Initiatives and Charter Amendments
- Modifying the Budget Process
- Adding Accountability to Financial Reporting Requirements
- Determining Initial Rules for the Charter Review Commission Meetings
- Adjusting the Calculation of Signatures Required for a Charter Amendment
- Requiring Land Supply and Construction Cost Analysis
The Whatcom County Charter is essentially the county's constitution, and voters have the final say on proposed changes.
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 Councilmembers and staff listen to a presentation on the Healthy Children's Fund.
Council held a special work session on July 29 to provide feedback on the draft 2025-2026 Healthy Children’s Fund Implementation Plan.
The Healthy Children’s Fund is a voter-approved property tax levy which generates approximately $10 million each year for the purpose of supporting vulnerable children and investing in early childhood learning and care.
While the rollout of fund distribution has been slower than originally anticipated, progress is being made. So far, the county has awarded 37 contracts totaling $7.9 million; an additional $7.6 million in funding are pending. As a result of this funding, there have been meaningful expansions to childcare, including:
- +16 infant childcare slots
- +243 slots for children ages two and above
- +192 drop-in childcare slots per month
The Healthy Children's Fund Implementation Plan, which must be updated every two years, includes 10 strategies for accomplishing the fund’s goals of supporting vulnerable children and investing in early learning and care:
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Early Learning & Care
Strategy 1: Provide funds for small capital projects to expand, renovate, or repurpose buildings to increase early learning and care slots in a mixed-delivery system.
Strategy 2: Coordinate current and develop additional pathways to ensure a stable and early learning and care workforce that can deliver high-quality programs for children.
Strategy 3: Improve access to early learning and care through subsidies that reduce the cost of programs for children from families that are cost-burdened.
Strategy 4: Ensure access to early learning and care by promoting the expansion and retention of the early learning and care workforce.
Strategy 5: Create regional early learning and care hubs that include shared administrative services, co-located early learning and other services for children and families, and support for smaller providers in the county.
Strategy 6: Support innovative approaches to meet various Healthy Children’s Fund goals for early learning and care.
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Support for Vulnerable Children
Strategy 7: Recruit mental and behavioral health workforce to Whatcom County.
Strategy 8: Develop and/or expand resources and programs for families who disproportionately experience housing instability.
Strategy 9: Expand and enhance early parenting support.
Strategy 10: Integrate and co-locate services via coordinated access to resource navigation.
 Councilmembers completed a prioritization exercise with Healthy Children's Fund strategies.
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During the special work session, councilmembers completed a prioritization exercise to help guide future funding allocations.
“The number one most important thing by far I hear from people is the need for more childcare slots,” Councilmember Byrd said.
Feedback gathered from the exercise will be incorporated into the Implementation Plan.
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This year’s Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force Annual Report, which was published at the end of June, includes the first Justice Project Implementation Plan Progress Report. This report outlines the county’s steps toward Implementation Plan goals, which include construction of a new jail and behavioral care center, and identifies additional resources needed to achieve those goals.
The Progress Report was created with support from the Justice Project Oversight and Planning (JPOP) Committee, a subcommittee of the larger Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force charged with monitoring progress on Justice Project implementation and ensuring robust community engagement throughout the process.
Community members interested in learning more about the Justice Project and the county’s efforts to transform its criminal legal system are welcome to attend an upcoming Task Force or JPOP Committee meeting.
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The JPOP Committee also currently has a vacancy for a youth representative. Applicants must be a young adult between the ages of 18 and 24. This position is for a partial term ending January 31, 2026. Members are appointed by the County Council.
Find out how to apply for membership on the JPOP Committee: www.whatcomcounty.us/1584
 Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force Co-Chairs Peter Frazier and Heather Flaherty presented the Task Force's Annual Report to councilmembers at a July meeting.
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 Councilmembers Buchanan, Byrd, and Scanlon will participate in District 3 Community Conversations events.
Earlier this summer, councilmembers launched a new Community Conversations series aimed at enhancing community engagement and providing residents with additional opportunities to share feedback and ideas with local elected officials.
In June and July, councilmembers met with community members at public libraries in Blaine, Ferndale, and Lynden. Topics of discussion included the county’s ongoing comprehensive plan update, water adjudication, local economic development opportunities, county budget deliberations, and more.
Councilmember Scanlon, who has attended all of the events so far, said, “I appreciate this opportunity to go out and hear from residents directly about their concerns. I think it’s valuable to be able to sit down and talk as neighbors about the issues impacting our county and our communities.”
In September, Councilmembers Buchanan, Byrd, and Scanlon will be in District 3 for more Community Conversations:
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Wednesday, September 17, 2025; 2:00-4:00 PM; Sudden Valley Community Center Multi-Purpose Room A (Gate 2) 8 Barn View Drive, Bellingham, WA 98229
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Thursday, September 25, 2025; 5:00-7:00 PM; Deming Library, 5044 Mt. Baker Hwy, Deming, WA 98244
Additional dates and locations will be scheduled later this year.
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In July, Councilmember Buchanan attended the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) annual conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he presented a new resolution opposing federal cuts to Medicaid.
NACo represents more than 3000 counties across the country and conducts advocacy at the federal level on their behalf.
Buchanan’s resolution, which was formally adopted by the Health Policy Steering Committee, NACo Executive Board, and General Membership, urges Congress and the Federal Administration to avoid:
- Eliminating or underfunding existing Medicaid expansion levels
- Capping federal Medicaid spending or turning Medicaid into a block grant
- Reducing the Medicaid matching rate for some or all states
- Making it harder for people to enroll or renew coverage
Medicaid provides health coverage to over 85 million low-income Americans, including children, pregnant women, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income working families. It also funds 60% of all long-term care services in the U.S., including nursing homes and in-home care for older adults.
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Buchanan’s resolution argues that cuts to Medicaid could cause residents to delay care until medical issues become emergencies, leading to worse health outcomes and greater strain on local emergency departments.
“I brought this resolution forward because reductions in Medicaid funding put our most vulnerable community members at risk and increase the financial burden on counties like ours, which are already stretched thin,” said Buchanan.
Now that the resolution has been approved, it will be incorporated into NACo’s permanent policy document, the American County Platform.
 Councilmember Barry Buchanan speaks at the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2025 Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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 Council Chair Kaylee Galloway
What drew you to work in local government?
I was a staffer for members of the US Congress and the Washington State Legislature, and before that I was involved in student government at WWU, so I’ve been fortunate to gain experience with all different levels of government. One of the things I appreciate about work at the local level is the connection to community and the ability to make a positive impact that people can see in their neighborhoods.
What is your favorite part of your work on the Council?
I love that every day is different. There is always something new to learn or a complex challenge to solve.
What challenges does Whatcom County currently face? What opportunities are available?
Whatcom County, like a lot of other counties and cities across the country, is currently facing a great deal of budgetary pressures. We have to figure out how to navigate a quickly changing landscape with rising costs and increasing community needs. Fortunately, we also have a lot of opportunities ahead of us. For example, with implementation of the Justice Project, we have the ability to center whole human health and wellness in our community’s approach to public health and safety. When people’s basic needs are met, our communities are safer.
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When you’re not working, how do you spend your free time?
Working! Council positions are part time, so many of us have more than one job. I own a small consulting business where I support fisheries enhancement groups statewide through the Regional Fisheries Coalition. When I have free time, I love to play soccer. As a kid, I was a competitive, multi-sport athlete, and sports meant a lot to me. I played soccer and softball, ran cross country, and unicycled, even competing at Nationals and Worlds. Those experiences taught me so much about hard work, dedication, leadership, friendship, and community. It’s been really fun getting back into soccer and softball as an adult and enjoying Bellingham and Whatcom County recreational programs.
What's your favorite Whatcom County park?
I love Lake Whatcom and hiking Lookout Mountain and Stimpson Family Nature Reserve.
What are you reading, watching, or listening to that you think others should check out?
I’m listening to an audio book called High Conflict by Amanda Ripley. The book defines high conflict as a state of intense, unproductive conflict where people are trapped in “us vs. them” thinking, often fueled by “conflict entrepreneurs” who exploit division for their own gain. High conflict contrasts with healthy conflict, which can lead to progress and understanding. Ripley highlights strategies for de-escalation, rehumanizing, finding common ground, and actively seeking understanding. Politics is a high conflict field, so learning how to reframe conflict in productive ways comes in handy when working towards progress, common good, and community service.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
I grew up being inspired by John Wooden, the head men’s UCLA basketball coach who led the Bruins to 10 national championships. He once said, “Make each day your masterpiece.”
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 Engage, learn, and discover at the first annual County Government Open House.
Learn all about Whatcom County government at the first annual county Open House, scheduled to take place September 3 from 6:00—7:30 p.m. at the County Courthouse in Bellingham.
Staff from across the county government will be available to answer your questions and share information about the scope of their departments’ work. Elected officials, including members of the County Council, will also be present to meet with attendees and hear their ideas for the county.
Council Chair Kaylee Galloway said, “We are always looking for ways to increase transparency and improve communication with residents. I’m looking forward to this Open House because it’s an opportunity to both showcase the county’s work and hear from our community members.”
Open House participants can expect to learn about upcoming public works construction projects, the latest updates on the new jail and behavioral care facility, county budget deliberations, and more. There will also be opportunities to compete for prizes by showing off your knowledge of Whatcom County trivia.
For more information and ADA accommodations, please contact Riley Sweeney at RSweeney@whatcomcounty.us or 360-778-5213.
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 Mark your calendars!
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Regular County Council and Committee Meeting Dates:
- Sept. 9 and 23
- Oct. 7 and 21
- Nov. 5 (Wed.) and 18
- Dec. 9
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Special Committee of the Whole - Begins at 9AM:
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Health Board - Begins at 10AM:
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Check the Legislative Information Center for meeting times, agendas, video, and more.
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Thanks for reading the Council Newsletter. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our work and serve this community.
Email councilinfo@co.whatcom.wa.us with questions or feedback.
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