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Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee

WHA-FAS-2025-05-13 May 13, 2025 Budget & Finance Committee Whatcom County 29 min
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The Finance and Administrative Services Committee meeting was marked by Chair Donovan's unusual opening statement about his concerns with having only the prosecutor's office for legal advice, saying he wouldn't be seeking such advice despite potential threats of prosecution or removal from office. The committee moved through a packed agenda that included $9 million in financial decisions. The committee unanimously approved seven consent agenda items totaling over $4.2 million, including a $1.5 million pollution control program expansion, mental health services for new mothers, and law enforcement technology upgrades. Three major presentations highlighted ongoing county operations: Western Washington University's Small Business Development Center reported helping 572 businesses in 2024 with $7.8 million in capital investments, while Facilities Division showcased completed courthouse improvements and ongoing construction projects. The most significant discussion centered on the county road fund's severe cash flow crisis. Public Works Director Elizabeth Kosa presented a stark picture: the fund faces structural deficit spending patterns going back nearly two decades, with recent unexpected costs totaling $7.3 million including project overruns, lower-than-expected state revenues, and infrastructure emergencies. The department's proposed solution requires a $4 million interfund loan authority to keep critical projects moving, combined with freezing 14 staff positions and cutting $970,000 in operations. The committee also unanimously recommended a $2.89 million Economic Development Investment request for the Port of Bellingham to acquire 58 acres for an agricultural research station, representing the largest single EDI commitment in recent memory.

**Consent Agenda (All passed 3-0):** - AB2025-347: $1.5 million pollution identification program expansion (total $3 million) - AB2025-354: $133,100 Mobile Mama mental health services expansion - AB2025-360: $21,900 Forest Service patrol reimbursement agreement - AB2025-363: $120,096 courthouse HVAC service contract - AB2025-364: $100,000 annual radio equipment authorization (2025-2026) - AB2025-369: $210,785 DNA analysis equipment purchase - AB2025-37…

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**Road Fund Crisis:** The county's road fund faces an unprecedented cash flow emergency, with Public Works projecting negative balances during peak construction months. Director Kosa presented a comprehensive analysis showing the fund has operated with structural deficits for nearly two decades, made worse by $7.3 million in unexpected 2024-2025 costs including the North Fork-Kenny Creek project ($1.4 million overrun), Central Shop stormwater mitigation ($2.6 million), lower state fuel tax revenues ($2 million), and ferry lawsuit settlement ($430,000). The proposed solution includes freezing 14 vacant positions potentially for 2-6 years, cutting $220,000 in chip seal and noxious weed control, and seeking $4 million interfund loan authority specifically for two critical projects: Beach Avenue slide repair on Lummi Island (90% federal reimbursement) and Everson-Goshen Road repaving ($1.6 million, 100% state reimbursement). Committee members expressed support for the cash flow solution but requested amendments to ensure Council notification before loans are executed. **Agricultural Research Investme…
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**Todd Donovan (Committee Chair):** Opened with unprecedented criticism of prosecutor's office legal advice, stating concerns about information transparency. Supported road fund solutions while requesting Council notification amendments. Managed tight meeting schedule due to volume of financial decisions. **Council Members Byrd and Buchanan:** Both supported consent agenda items and road fund proposals. Buchanan specifically championed the agricultural research station as a "great project" representing years of focused effort. **Mark Stremler (Non-voting member):** Raised detailed questions about gender equity in mental health services, specifically asking why fathers experiencing perinatal mental health issues couldn't access Mobile Mama services directly. **Elizabeth…
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**Todd Donovan, on legal advice concerns:** "Given those issues with information, I think we haven't been getting... I'm not going to be seeking that, although I was given some anyway, that they might threaten to remove me from office or prosecute me, but I don't take that very seriously." **Elizabeth Kosa, on road fund structural problems:** "Further shows that the fund is not nimble enough to absorb unanticipated costs. Further deficit spending, large cash flow needs, or increases in expens…
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- Road fund interfund loan ordinance to be introduced at evening Council meeting with potential amendment requiring Council notification - Agricultural research station EDI funding vote at evening Council meeting - Budget amendment discussion (AB2025-367) deferred to evening meeting - June 15, 2025: Port's 60-day feasibility deadline for agricultural research station property acquisition -…

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The county road fund moved from chronic structural problems to acute cash flow crisis requiring immediate intervention. The committee shifted from discussing long-term fund balance targets to emergency measures including position freezes and interfund loans to maintain basic operations. Agricultural research station planning advanced from concept to final funding decision after nearly a decade of development, with the county …
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# Whatcom County Finance Committee Navigates Cash Flow Crisis and Major Infrastructure Investments The Whatcom County Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee convened on May 13, 2025, for a packed 90-minute session that would prove to be one of the most consequential financial discussions of the year. Committee Chair Todd Donovan presided over the hybrid meeting in Council Chambers, joined by Committee Members Tyler Byrd and Barry Buchanan, with additional council members Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler participating. The meeting began with an unexpected proclamation from Chair Donovan about his concerns with the county's legal advisory structure. "Given some events that were in the media this week and some previous issues with not feeling getting all information from the prosecutor," Donovan announced, "I think we haven't been getting [complete information]. Just kind of pulling the bandaid off about my concerns with the Council having only the prosecutor's office for legal advice." This set a tone of institutional scrutiny that would carry through the day's discussions. ## Small Business Development Center Reports Strong Recovery The meeting's first major presentation came from the Western Washington University Small Business Development Center, represented by CJ Seitz, Eric Grimstead, and Dr. Liliana Deck. Their 2024 annual report painted a picture of remarkable economic resilience in Whatcom County's small business sector. "This was a huge year for us," Seitz reported, detailing how they provided one-on-one counseling to 572 different businesses — a significant increase driven by both targeted outreach to Spanish-speaking Latino businesses and agricultural communities, and broader economic momentum as the post-COVID recovery gained steam. The numbers told a compelling story of impact. The center helped 31 businesses start or be purchased in 2024, supported a client portfolio generating $206 million in sales and over 1,700 jobs, and facilitated $7.8 million in capital investments. "If you look at every local dollar invested in our program, we're returning that $25 in the way of capital investments," Seitz noted with evident pride. Dr. Deck's work with Latino-owned businesses proved particularly impactfu…
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### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee met on May 13, 2025, to review seven consent agenda contracts, hear three presentations from county departments and partners, and discuss major financial challenges facing the county road fund. The committee recommended a $2.89 million investment in an agricultural research station and approved all consent items unanimously. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Consent Agenda:** A group of routine agenda items that are typically approved together without individual discussion unless a committee member requests to pull an item for separate consideration. **Inter-fund Loan:** A financial mechanism allowing one county fund to loan money to another fund temporarily, with repayment expected within a specified timeframe. **Road Fund Cash Flow Crisis:** A situation where the county road fund lacks sufficient cash on hand to pay for ongoing operations and projects, despite having approved budget authority. **Project-Based Budget:** A multi-year budget allocation method that ties up cash for the entire duration of a project, reducing available cash flow for other needs. **Mobile Mama Therapies:** A specialized mental health service providing therapy to mothers during the perinatal period (pregnancy through early postpartum). **Economic Development Investment (EDI) Board:** A county board that reviews and recommends funding for economic development projects using dedicated county funds. **Unified Fee Schedule:** A comprehensive list of all fees the county charges for various services, typically updated during the budget process or through executive orders. **Disposal of Toxics Facility:** A county facility where residents and small businesses can safely dispose of hazardous waste materials. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Todd Donovan | Committee Chair, Council Member District 3 | | Tyler Byrd | Council Member District 1 | | Barry Buchanan | Council Member District 4 | | Mark Stremler | Council Member District 5 | | Jon Scanlon | Council Member District 2 | | Elizabeth Kosa | Public Works Director | | Tyler Schroeder | Port of Bellingham Economic Development Director …
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Budget & Finance Economic Development Transportation & Infrastructure Government Operations AB 2025 347 AB 2025 354 AB 2025 356 AB 2025 373 Facilities Health And Community Services Mobile Mama Therapies Port Of Bellingham Prosecutors Office Public Works Whatcom County Whatcom Food And Farming Station Wwu Small Business Development Center Allison Williams Aly Pennucci Barry Buchanan Cj Seitz Doug Ranney Elizabeth Kosa Eric Grimstead Jennifer Hayden Liliana Deck Mark Stremler Rob Ney Sarah Simpson Todd Donovan Tyler Byrd Tyler Schroeder Agriculture Budget Finance Cash Flow Economic Development Facilities Hazardous Waste Infrastructure Interfund Loans Mental Health Road Fund Small Business