The Whatcom County Council approved a new sales and use tax by a 5-2 vote on April 14, 2026. The measure authorizes a 0.1% sales and use tax for criminal justice purposes. The council used authority provided by Washington state law which allowed implementing the tax without a public vote.
The tax is scheduled to take effect in July 2026 and will add 10 cents to a $100 purchase. Annual revenue is projected at $7 million.
The revenue is earmarked for jail health and food services and lease payments for a proposed new Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office facility on Hannegan Road in Bellingham.
… Whatcom County Council intends that revenues from the new Sales and Use tax for criminal justice purposes be prioritized in the 2027- 28 biennial budget for support to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office for jail health and food services, support to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office for lease payments for the new Sheriffs office, and support for labor costs necessary to maintain levels of service across County departments and offices eligible to use revenues …
– Whatcom County Ordinance 2026-020
The tax is in addition to an existing 0.2% sales tax approved by voters in November 2023. On March 25, 2026, county budget reports indicated that those tax revenues were $1 million below projections.
Estimated costs for the new jail have reportedly increased from $150 million to $200 million.
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