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Whatcom County Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee

WHA-FAS-2025-04-29 April 29, 2025 Budget & Finance Committee Whatcom County 29 min
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The Whatcom County Finance and Administrative Services Committee convened for their regular monthly meeting, processing a substantial consent agenda of 11 items totaling over $4.4 million in contracts and agreements, with several major flood control projects driving much of the spending. The committee's most significant action was setting target allocations for the Economic Development Investment (EDI) fund, reducing the reserve requirement from 20% to 15% and increasing housing project funding to 30% of available resources. Committee members also received a comprehensive briefing on the county's challenging mid-biennium budget review process, which Deputy Executive Aly Pennucci described as addressing a structural imbalance between revenues and expenses. The administration outlined an intensive departmental review process requiring detailed justification of all services and modeling of potential budget reductions. Finance Director Randy Rydell presented the 2024 year-end financial report, showing the county ended with a $2.7 million deficit—significantly better than the budgeted $16 million deficit—but warned of concerning trends including flat sales tax revenues. The meeting highlighted ongoing concerns about flood control spending, with Council Member Mark Stremler requesting a comprehensive presentation on actual flood mitigation work completed, noting the community's desire for results rather than continued studies. Technical difficulties at the meeting's start and time constraints forced the postponement of a facilities division presentation to the next meeting.

**Consent Agenda Items (AB2025-322 through AB2025-339):** Approved 3-0 for recommendation to full Council. Total value approximately $4.4 million including $90,000 for election pamphlets, $512,000 for bridge replacement, $2.998 million for flood planning consultation, and various other contracts. Staff recommended approval; committee concurred. **EDI Fund Target Allocations (AB2025-303):** Approved 2-0-1 (Byrd abstained) for recommendation to full Council. Changed allocations to: 15% reserve (down from 20%), 30% housing projects (up from previous level), 30% Whatcom County projects, 40% government infrastructure. Staff recommended council provide guidance; committee provided specific allocation targets. **N. Fork Road Fish Passage Budget Amendment (AB2025-290):** Approved 3-0 for recommendation to full Council. Staff rec…

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**Economic Development Investment Fund Strategy:** The committee engaged in detailed discussion about balancing competing priorities within the EDI fund's approximately $16.6 million available balance. Jill Boudreau explained the administration's recommendation for target allocations to provide guidance to the EDI board when evaluating applications. The discussion centered on appropriate reserve levels for maintaining a revolving loan fund while maximizing deployment of resources. Council members expressed interest in increasing housing project funding from previous levels to 30%, reflecting growing demand in that sector. The committee grappled with the tradeoff between deploying more resources immediately versus maintaining adequate reserves for future years. **Mid-Biennium Budget Review Process:** Deputy Executive Pennucci outlined the administration's approach to the 2026 mid-biennium review, emphasizing the need for detailed service inventory and impact analysis rather than across-the-board cuts. The process requires departments to justif…
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**Aly Pennucci, Deputy County Executive:** Advocated for comprehensive departmental review process avoiding across-the-board cuts, emphasizing need to address structural budget imbalance through combination of expense reduction and revenue enhancement. Stressed importance of understanding service impacts before making cuts. **Jill Boudreau, Executive's Office:** Supported providing EDI board with target allocation guidance while maintaining flexibility for board recommendations. Noted wide range of potential housing applications from $3,000 permit fees to $20+ million capital projects. **Randy Rydell, Finance Director:** Presented concerning trends in county finances including flat sales tax revenues offset by one-time revenue sources. Highlighted successful …
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**Aly Pennucci, on budget challenges:** "Our budget funds really important services that helps enhance our community and strengthen our economic security and supports future planning. However, the cost, as you know, to provide these services and outpacing our revenue growth." **Mark Stremler, on flood studies:** "The community seems to be wanting a little more results than just studies. And I believe it's time they have an update as well as the council has an update of any like actual work th…
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- **May 8:** EDI Board meeting to review new structure and call for applications - **June:** Public Works presentation on actual Nooksack River flood mitigation work completed (requested by Stremler) - **June 9:** Deadline for departments to submit detailed budget information for mid-biennium review - **July:** Committee of the Whole budget work sessions (to be scheduled) - **Late June/July:** …

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Following this meeting, the EDI fund will operate under new target allocations with 5% less in reserves and increased emphasis on housing projects at 30% of available funds. The county has formally launched its most comprehensive budget review process in years, requiring detailed justification of all services and explicit impact analysis for potential cuts. The administration lifted its hiring freeze implemented in June 2024, returning position control authority to department directors rather than executive oversight. The committee established precedent for requiring results-oriented presentations on long-term projects, with Stremler's demand …
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# Budgets, Floods, and Financial Realities: Whatcom County Grapples with Fiscal Challenges In the confines of the Whatcom County Courthouse, the Finance and Administrative Services Committee gathered on April 29, 2025, for what would prove to be a revealing glimpse into the county's financial future. Chair Todd Donovan presided over the hybrid meeting, joined by Committee Members Barry Buchanan and Tyler Byrd, with several other council members participating both in person and virtually. The morning began with technical difficulties—a fitting metaphor for the budget challenges ahead. As IT staff scrambled to fix audio issues, committee members waited patiently while Deputy Executive Aly Pennucci prepared to deliver sobering news about the county's fiscal trajectory. ## Meeting Overview After resolving the technical hiccups by 9:25 a.m., the committee moved efficiently through a substantial agenda. What emerged was a meeting that perfectly encapsulated the tension between continuing community needs and tightening financial constraints. The committee processed eleven consent items worth over $5 million, allocated funding across multiple priorities, and confronted the reality that hard choices lay ahead. The session highlighted both routine governance and significant policy discussions—from flood mitigation studies along the Nooksack River to the fundamental restructuring of how the county approaches budgeting. Most notably, it revealed a government wrestling with the classic challenge of providing expanding services with constrained resources. ## The Nooksack River Studies: Accountability Demanded Four of the eleven consent agenda items involved continued investments in Nooksack River flood mitigation studies, prompting Council Member Mark Stremler to voice community frustration. "The community seems to be wanting a little more results than just studies," Stremler observed, expressing a sentiment that resonated beyond the chambers. Stremler's concerns reflected years of on…
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### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Finance and Administrative Services Committee met on April 29, 2025, to review budget amendments, discuss future budget planning for the mid-biennium review, and receive financial reports. The committee addressed multiple flood-related contracts for the Nooksack River and set funding allocation targets for economic development investments. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Mid-Biennium Review:** A budget adjustment process that occurs midway through a two-year budget cycle, allowing counties to modify spending without creating an entirely new budget. **Economic Development Investment (EDI) Fund:** A county fund that receives rural sales tax revenue and provides grants and loans for public facilities, housing, and economic development projects. **Flood Control Zone District:** A special district that manages flood control projects and levies taxes specifically for flood management infrastructure. **Fund Balance:** The amount of money remaining in a government fund after revenues and expenditures, often used as a reserve for emergencies or future projects. **Consent Agenda:** A group of routine items that are voted on together without individual discussion, unless a member requests separate consideration. **General Fund:** The primary operating fund for county government that pays for basic services like administration, public safety, and general operations. **ARPA Funds:** American Rescue Plan Act federal funding provided during the COVID-19 pandemic for local government relief and recovery projects. **Hiring Freeze:** A temporary policy stopping most new employee hiring to control personnel costs during budget constraints. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Todd Donovan | Committee Chair, County Council Member | | Barry Buchanan | Committee Member, County Council Member | | Tyler Byrd | Committee Member, County Council Member | | Mark Stremler | County Council Member (observer) | | Kaylee Galloway | County Council Member (observer) | | Jon Scanlon | County Council Member (observer) | | Ben Elenbaas | County Council Member (observer) | | Aly Pennucci | Deputy County Executive | | Jill Boudreau | Executive's Office Staff | | Randy Rydell | Finance Director | | Elizabeth Kosa | Pu…
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Budget & Finance Housing Environmental Government Operations AB 2025 290 AB 2025 293 AB 2025 302 AB 2025 303 AB 2025 310 AB 2025 314 AB 2025 322 AB 2025 341 City Bellingham City Ferndale Edi Board Finance Division Herrera Environmental Northwest Natural Resource Group Public Works Department University Washington Usgs Whatcom County Aly Pennucci Barry Buchanan Elizabeth Kosa Jill Boudreau Jon Scanlon Kaylee Galloway Mark Stremler Randy Rydell Todd Donovan Tyler Byrd Budget Finance Economic Development Election Services Flood Control Government Operations Housing Funding Lake Whatcom Watershed Personnel Costs Public Participation Sales Tax Revenue