Budget and Finance Committee

**What-Comm 911 Dispatch Facility Construction** The $12 million project addresses critical public safety infrastructure needs. Staff explained that the current facility, housed in a converted former fire station, creates safety hazards for dispatchers handling emergency calls. Finance Director Andy Asbjornsen detailed that the city had already seeded a What-Comm capital projects fund with $1.5 million from the general fund, which will be reimbursed through bond proceeds. The new facility will be located on the same property as the current building, consolidating operations without requiring land acquisition. Bids are scheduled to open January 6, with bond issuance planned for January 21. What-Comm user fees will pay the debt service, ensuring the project doesn't burden general city revenues. **Public Facilities Distri…

**Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director:** Recommended approval of the full ordinance, emphasizing both the public safety necessity of the What-Comm facility and the financial advantage of extending PFD tax collection authority. Committed to keeping actual bond issuance "as low as possible" and bringing bid results back to Council before final bond pricing. **Council Member Daniel Hammill:** Strongly supportive, drawing on his service on the What-Comm board to describe urgent facility needs including overcrowding and electrical safety hazards. Pr…

**Daniel Hammill, on facility conditions:** "The former Deputy Director at one point reported during a board meeting that they were trying to plug in some equipment to the wall, and sparks and fire would shoot out." **Daniel Hammill, on the project necessity:** "The current facility that houses the workers that take your 911 calls when you're having the worst day of your life are crammed in there." **Andy Asbjornsen, on fiscal responsibility:** "Our desire is not to go up to 19 million and …

**Authorization Status:** City now has authority to issue up to $19 million in general obligation bonds for What-Comm facility and PFD refunding (pending full Council approval) **PFD Tax Collection:** Extended potential collection period for state-shared sales tax from 2027 to 2046, securing approximately $2.3 million annually in growing revenues **Project Funding:** What-Comm facility moved from conceptual to funded status with dedicated revenue stream (user fees) for deb…

### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council Budget and Finance Committee met on December 15, 2025, to review a bond ordinance for up to $19 million in general obligation bonds. The primary focus was financing a new Whatcom 911 dispatch facility and refunding existing Public Facilities District debt. ### Key Terms and Concepts **General Obligation Bonds:** Municipal bonds backed by the full faith and credit of the issuing government, meaning the city pledges to use tax revenue and all available resources to repay bondholders. **Public Facilities District (PFD):** A special government entity established to fund public facilities like theaters and museums, funded through state-shared sales tax revenue. **Refunding Bonds:** New bonds issued to pay off existing debt, typically to take advantage of lower interest rates or extend payment terms. **State-Shared Sales Tax:** A portion of state sales tax revenue that is returned to local public facilities districts, currently generating about $2.3 million annually for Bellingham's PFD. **Whatcom (What-Comm):** The 911 dispatch center serving Bellingham and surrounding jurisdictions, currently housed in an aging former fire station. **Bond Ordinance:** The legal document that authorizes a city to issue bonds, specifying the maximum amount, purpose, and terms of the debt. **True Interest Cost:** The actual interest rate the city will pay on bonds over their lifetime, accounting for all costs and fees. **Debt Service:** The scheduled payments of principal and interest that the city must make to bondholders over the life of the bonds. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Lisa Anderson | Budget and Finance Committee Chair | | Daniel Hammill | Committee Member | | Michael Lilliquist | Committee Member | | Andy Asbjornsen | Finance Director | ### Background Context The current Whatcom 911 dispatch …