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Whatcom County Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee

WHA-CON-FAS-2025-12-09 December 09, 2025 Budget & Finance Committee Whatcom County
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Whatcom County's Finance and Administrative Services Committee concluded its 2025 work with an end-of-year marathon session, processing 42 consent items totaling millions in contracts and agreements while receiving detailed presentations on county finances and election operations. The December 9th meeting showcased both the routine administrative machinery of county government and emerging fiscal challenges that will shape 2026 decision-making. The committee approved the overwhelming majority of items on a massive 40-item consent agenda covering everything from body camera subscriptions to collective bargaining agreements. However, several items generated debate that revealed philosophical differences among committee members, particularly around flood control zone district spending priorities and racial equity funding. Council Member Tyler Byrd consistently opposed items he viewed as straying from core flood control purposes, voting against contracts totaling over $800,000 for stormwater utility programs and groundwater studies that he argued should focus more directly on flood mitigation. Two substantial presentations provided critical context for the county's fiscal position heading into 2026. County Auditor Stacy Henthorn reported that Whatcom County now has 169,350 registered voters — an increase of 10,500 since 2020 — while maintaining the same staffing levels since 2015 through cross-training and efficiency improvements. More concerning, Finance Director Randy Rydel delivered sobering news about sales tax collections, which are trending 1.8 percent below 2024 levels despite budget assumptions of 2.5 percent growth. This revenue shortfall is prompting the county to hold back discretionary spending while awaiting clarity on new revenue sources from updated security and IT contracts. The committee also grappled with surplus property disposal procedures after Council Member Byrd suggested providing equipment to cash-strapped Search and Rescue operations rather

**Major Contract Approvals (All Passed 3-0 unless noted):** - AB2025-832: $648,568 to Opportunity Council for 22 North supportive housing services (2-1, Byrd opposed) - AB2025-868: $150,000 to Whatcom Community Foundation for Racial Equity Commission administration (2-1, Byrd opposed) - AB2025-860: Collective bargaining agreement with Washington State Nurses Association for 2026-2028 - AB2025-869: Collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME for 2026-2027 - AB2025-815: $302,588 five-year contract with Axon Enterprise for body camera storage **Flood Control Zone District Items (Council acting as Board of Supervisors):** - AB2025-845: $90,000 for Lake Whatcom stormwater utility programs (2-1, Byrd opposed) - AB2025-848: $147,532 for groundwa…

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**Flood Control Zone District Spending Philosophy** The most substantive policy debate centered on the appropriate use of flood control zone district funds, which generate revenue through property assessments but have been expanded beyond their original flood control purpose. Council Member Byrd consistently argued that funds should prioritize actual flood mitigation rather than broader watershed management activities. "I'd like to see more of our funds that are in the flood control zone district board going towards actually flood control projects," Byrd stated, while acknowledging the importance of water quality work. Gary Stoyka from Public Works provided crucial context about the evolution of flood control district authority, explaining that state legislation expanded the scope in the 1990s to include stormwater management and watershed planning. This expansion allows the county to fund activities under the Watershed Planning Act, including habitat improvements and stream flow studies. Despite legal authority for these broader uses, Stoyka acknowledged the naming confusion: "We still keep calling it the flood fund," and noted that past attempts to rename the district were blocked by legal opinions requiring retention of the "Flood Control Zone District" designation. **Sales Tax Revenue Concerns and Fiscal Caution** Finance Director Randy Rydel's quarterly report revealed troubling sales tax trends that are reshaping 2026 planning. Collections are running 1.8 percent below 2024 levels, falling short of the 2.5 percent growth assumption built into the budget. Rydel noted that large one-time purchases from major companies can create misleading spikes, but the underlying trend shows weakness in retail activi…
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**Council Member Tyler Byrd** consistently advocated for focusing flood control zone district spending on direct flood mitigation rather than broader watershed activities. He opposed items he viewed as mission creep, stating his preference for "spending it on actually mitigating flood damage" and "flood prevention." Byrd also championed supporting Search and Rescue operations, arguing their critical services justify exceptions to standard surplus property procedures. **Council Member Todd Donovan** supported the full range of flood control zone district activities while acknowledging Byrd's philosophical concerns. As committee chair, Donovan balanced efficient meeting management with allowing adequate discussion of contentious items. He engaged substantively with both the auditor's office presentation and finance director's revenue concerns. **Council Member Barry Buchanan** generally supported staff recommendations without extensive comment, though he engaged actively with the auditor's presentation, praising staff service quality and asking detailed questions about fee structures and operational challenges. **Finance Director Randy Rydel** delivered a sobering assessment of sales tax trends while hi…
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**Randy Rydel, on sales tax performance:** "We're just really not seeing that we're starting below below that line now and I don't I don't know what to expect obviously I can't can't predict these things with much accuracy." **Council Member Tyler Byrd, on flood control priorities:** "I'd like to see more of our funds that are in the flood control zone district board going towards actually flood control projects. Water quality in the PIC projects is, I think, is important. So that's why I didn…
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**January 2026 Reconsideration:** - AB2025-854 (Bellingham paramedic position funding) returns to committee for further review **Revenue Monitoring:** - December sales tax collections will provide critical data on new contract revenue impacts - Q4 finance report will include updated projections for 2026 planning - Budget software implementation continues with full rollout expected by end of 2026 budget cycle **Study Completions:** - Mid-year 2026: Results from groundwat…

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**Budget Authority Increased:** The county gained $12.1 million in budget authority for 2026 construction programs, though the net fiscal impact is only $282,933 due to offsetting revenues and previously budgeted items. An additional $3.6 million in 2025 budget amendments was also approved. **Flood Control Spending Approved:** Despite philosophical objections from Council Member Byrd, over $365,000 in flood control zone district funds was committed to watershed management activities, including lake stormwater programs and groundwater studies. The committee affirmed the district's expanded mission beyond direct flood control. **Labor Agreements Finalized:** New collective bargaining agreements with both the Washington State Nurses Association (through 2028) and AFSCME (through 2027) received a…
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# Whatcom County Finance Committee: A Year-End Reckoning ## Meeting Overview The December 9, 2025 meeting of the Whatcom County Finance and Administrative Services Committee represented a classic end-of-year legislative sprint, with Committee Chair Todd Donovan announcing at the outset: "We have 40 items. It's the end of the year." The 87-minute hybrid meeting in Council Chambers brought together committee members Tyler Byrd, Barry Buchanan, and Donovan, along with attending council members Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler. This wasn't just administrative housekeeping—the meeting tackled significant policy questions around federal immigration enforcement, flood control funding priorities, property disposal policies, and the county's financial trajectory heading into 2026. Two major presentations from the Auditor's Office and Finance Department provided transparency into county operations, while dozens of contracts and budget amendments revealed the machinery of local government in action. ## The Great Consent Agenda Navigation What followed was a carefully choreographed dance through 40 consent agenda items, with several council members pulling specific contracts for separate consideration. Byrd requested separate votes on items involving the controversial 22 North housing facility, multiple flood control zone district contracts, and the Racial Equity Commission funding. The discussion revealed philosophical differences about spending priorities and the proper scope of government programs. The 22 North contract with Opportunity Council for $648,568 in supportive housing services drew Byrd's opposition. "This is 22 North and so everyone knows how I feel, yeah, about that," he stated succinctly. The item passed 2-1, with Donovan and Buchanan supporting the permanent supportive housing services. Byrd's pattern of opposition extended to several flood control zone district contracts, where he articulated a clear position: "I'd like to see more of our funds that are in the flood control zone district board going towards actually flood control projects. Water quality in the PIC projects is, I think, is important. So that's why I didn't pull any of those out. But a bunch…
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### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Finance and Administrative Services Committee met on December 9, 2025, to process 40 consent agenda items, receive presentations from the Auditor's Office and Finance Division, and consider several budget ordinances and resolutions. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Consent Agenda:** A group of routine agenda items voted on together to expedite meetings. Items can be pulled out for separate discussion and voting if council members have questions. **Flood Control Zone District Board:** A special governing role where the county council acts to oversee flood control, stormwater management, and watershed planning activities funded by special district taxes. **Operation Stonegarden:** Federal grant program providing funding to local law enforcement agencies in border areas to enhance security infrastructure and operations. **Keep Washington Working Act:** State legislation that limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement activities. **Budget Supplemental:** Mid-year budget adjustments that add spending authority for departments, often including both revenue and expenditure components. **22 North:** A permanent supportive housing facility in Whatcom County that provides housing and services for individuals transitioning from homelessness. **Self-Insured Workers' Compensation:** The county pays workers' compensation claims directly rather than purchasing insurance, then buys excess coverage for large claims. **Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility (LWSU):** Special program managing stormwater systems around Lake Whatcom to protect the drinking water source. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Todd Donovan | Committee Chair | | Tyler Byrd | Committee Member | | Barry Buchanan | Committee Member | | Ben Elenbaas | Council Member (non-committee) | | Kaylee Galloway | Council Member (non-committee) | | Jon Scanlon | Council Member (non-committee) | | Mark Stre…
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Budget & Finance Government Operations AB 2025 832 AB 2025 845 AB 2025 848 AB 2025 850 AB 2025 854 AB 2025 868 Associated Earth Sciences City Of Bellingham Opportunity Council Search And Rescue Whatcom Community Foundation Whatcom Conservation District Whatcom County Aly Pennucci Barry Buchanan Gary Stoyka Kayla Schott Bresler Randy Rydel Stacy Henthorn Todd Donovan Tyler Byrd Budget Finance Collective Bargaining Election Administration Emergency Services Flood Control Zone District Paramedic Services Racial Equity Commission Sales Tax Revenue Search And Rescue Surplus Property Disposal Watershed Management