Vote Yes, Pay Less
Repeal
The Whatcom County Tax Hike
Fighting for an Affordable Whatcom
Repeal for lower county property taxes
Repeal this tax increase that worsens the housing affordability crisis for renters
Repeal the escalating $100 million tax hike that burdens our struggling residents
I-2024-01 : Repeal County Tax Increase
This measure would repeal the 2022 Levy Lid Lift, eliminating the 10-year county tax increase of Proposition 2022-05 and all related legislation and implementation, including Ordinance 2022-045 and Ordinance 2023-059.
Repeal for lower county property taxes
the people of Whatcom County are currently grappling with the weight of Proposition 5, which imposes an oppressive 25.33% increase in county property taxes
Proposition 5 perpetuates an unyielding cycle of financial strain by tying property taxes to ever-rising home and property values
Repeal to help stop the housing affordability crisis for renters
Proposition 5 contributes to the massive 16.9% increase in housing costs and further compounds the Whatcom County housing crisis
renters face increased financial strain as landlords are forced to pass on rising costs, further deepening the housing affordability crisis
Repeal the escalating $100 million tax hike that burdens our struggling residents
this burdensome tax unjustly affects our retired citizens, veterans, and elderly population, whose fixed incomes are stretched thin
young adults and families striving to establish roots and build a future find themselves suffocated by the weight of this oppressive tax
More in depth info:
Read Adopting The Implementation Plan (PDF) to learn more about the implementation plan for 2022-05.
Local guest opinion from former County Councilmember Sam Crawford, Lynden Tribune
Healthy Children’s Fund Fails Families
Voters were told that Prop 5, the Healthy Children’s Fund would fix childcare for everyone in Whatcom County. That promise was never true. In reality, Prop 5 has failed families, wasted millions, and continues to burden taxpayers.
Here are the facts:
Prop 5 promised universal childcare support — but the reality is far different. In the first two years, the Healthy Children’s Fund collected over $20 million in tax revenue, yet only one childcare capital project was completed. That project — at a cost of $67,000 — renovated an existing facility and added just eight new infant slots in the entire county!
Delays and bureaucracy — contracts to provide childcare services took up to 165 days to be finalized. Meanwhile, families wait, and taxpayer dollars sit idle.
Betrayal of voters — the County Council majority voted to spend taxpayer money to oppose our initiative to repeal Prop 5, putting politics above the promises they made to you.
$12.8 million promised for childcare. Only 7% delivered.
Prop 5 is not the answer to our childcare crisis. It is a $100 million tax burden on families over the next decade, and it does nothing to solve the real problems parents face every day.
In 2024, our initiative to repeal Prop 5 was kept off the ballot due to legal challenges that were bogus and unsupported by any evidence, but we refused to back down and we are now fighting even harder to ensure voters have their say. Our oral argument is scheduled for September 19, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. before Judges Mann, Chung, and Bowman in the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I. We will be arguing in person, and you are welcome to attend — or watch the hearing live on TVW’s website.
READ THE HEALTHY CHILDREN’S FUND TWO YEAR PROCESS
EVALUATION HERE
Updates
OUR DAY IN COURT
On September 19th we had our day before the Court of Appeals and we couldn’t be more encouraged! The judges came prepared, asked sharp questions of both sides, and really dug into the heart of the case. That kind of engagement is exactly what we hoped for, as it shows they are taking this issue, and our community’s concerns, very seriously. Our legal team presented the case clearly and confidently, and we believe the arguments resonated. Of course, the final decision rests with the court, and it’s always hard to predict outcomes. But walking out of the hearing, we felt proud of the effort we’ve built together. We stood up, we spoke the truth, and we made sure Whatcom County families had a voice in that courtroom.
This fight has never been just about repealing Prop 5. It’s about protecting our most vulnerable neighbors from policies that make life harder, and about insisting that government be honest with the people it serves. That message came through loud and clear that day. Thank you to every one of you who has signed petitions, donated, volunteered, prayed, and cheered us on. We’ll share the decision the moment it’s issued. Until then, let’s keep pressing forward together, with hope, with determination, and with the conviction that the people’s voice matters!
