Real Briefings
The Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole convened on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, for what would become a sprawling three-and-a-half-hour session that touched on everything from international tariff impacts to sewage leaking on sheriff's deputies. Chair Kaylee Galloway called the meeting to order at 1:27 p.m. in the council chambers, with all seven members present either in person or via Zoom.
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# Border Tensions, Capital Priorities, and Water Rights: A Marathon Council Session
The Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole convened on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, for what would become a sprawling three-and-a-half-hour session that touched on everything from international tariff impacts to sewage leaking on sheriff's deputies. Chair Kaylee Galloway called the meeting to order at 1:27 p.m. in the council chambers, with all seven members present either in person or via Zoom.
What began as a routine committee meeting evolved into a comprehensive examination of the county's most pressing challenges — from deteriorating U.S.-Canada relations affecting local businesses to difficult choices about which essential county facilities to build first when funding falls short.
## Legislative Update: Ferry Funding Stalled
Jed Holmes from County Executive Satpal Sidhu's office opened the meeting with a sobering update on the 2025 state legislative session. While state revenues continue to rise, they're running about half a billion dollars short of initial projections across the biennium. More concerning for Whatcom County: neither the House nor Senate transportation budget proposals include additional funding for the Lummi Island ferry.
"We have $5.3 million in funding from the state, and then we have over 20 years of $10 million through the CRAB program. Those are not at risk," Holmes assured council members when asked about existing ferry funding. But the lack of new money means continued reliance on current resources.
Holmes, Chair Galloway, and Kayla Schott-Bresler were preparing to head to Olympia the following day to lobby about ten senators and representatives from both chambers about county priorities.
The county's operating budget requests also faced challenges. Previous funding for public outreach around adjudication issues — about $350,000 in the last biennium, plus money for technical studies — wasn't included in current House and Senate proposals.
Council Member Jon Scanlon announced that the Public Health Advisory Board would conduct its own lobby day in Olympia on April 10th, focusing on foundational public health services that face potential cuts in the governor's proposal. "It would impact shelter, a lot of different things we do," Scanlon explained, inviting other council members to join the morning trip.
## Border Crisis: When Neighbors Become Strangers
Dr. Lori Trautman from Western Washington University's Border Policy Research Insti…
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### Meeting Overview
The Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole met on Tuesday, March 25th, 2025, for a packed hybrid session covering state legislative updates, potential tariff impacts from U.S.-Canada tensions, major capital project funding decisions, and planning policy amendments. The committee grappled with competing priorities for limited resources while addressing infrastructure needs and regulatory compliance issues.
### Key Terms and Concepts
**REET (Real Estate Excise Tax):** A tax on real estate transactions that funds county capital projects. Whatcom County has two REET funds, but both are facing revenue shortfalls relative to planned expenditures.
**Lummi Island Ferry:** A county-operated ferry service that requires ongoing state funding support. The 2025 transportation budgets do not include additional funding for this service.
**Border Policy Research Institute:** A Western Washington University research center that studies the economic impact of the U.S.-Canada border on Whatcom County, including cross-border trade and tourism patterns.
**County-wide Planning Policies:** Written policy statements that establish a county-wide framework from which the county and city comprehensive plans are developed under Washington's Growth Management Act.
**Northwest Clean Air Agency (NWCAA):** A regional air quality agency with enforcement powers that can assess substantial penalties for air emission violations, as demonstrated in their $4 million settlement with Petrogas.
**Foreign Trade Zone:** A designated area at the Port of Bellingham where businesses can defer or eliminate customs duties on imported goods, particularly valuable during trade disputes.
**SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act):** Washington's environmental review law that requires analysis of environmental impacts for major projects and developments.
**Cherry Point:** An industrial area in Whatcom County where several major facilities operate, including refineries and terminals that handle petroleum products.
### Key People at This Meeting
| Name | Role / Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Kaylee Galloway | Council Chair |
| Satpal Sidhu | County Executive |
| Jed Holmes | County Executive's Office |
| Laurie Trautman | WWU Border Policy Research Institute Director |
| Sheriff Donnell Tanksley | Whatcom County Sheriff |
| Ali Pennucci | Deputy County Executive |
| Rob Ney | County Facilities Director |
| Mark Buford | Northwest Clean Air Agency Executive Director |
| Mark Personius | Planning and Development Services Director |
### Background Conte…
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