From the newsroom

It probably isn't news to anyone that Bellingham, along with Whatcom County and every other jurisdiction in the region, is faced with a harrowing imbalance between stagnant revenue and rising spending.

But yesterday we got a first look at Mayor Kim Lund's proposed 2026 Bellingham budget, which includes service reductions along with tax increases, and the elimination of 40 positions.

Most of those positions are vacant, but a dozen city employees could be laid off if the budget is adopted as proposed, an outcome that the mayor and department heads are clearly distressed about.

Meanwhile, some community members are concerned about a proposed 0.1% sales tax in Bellingham, which would be allocated to public safety and criminal justice. Opponents say the city is increasing the cost of living to fund more police. Lund emphasized that the tax would not fund a single new officer position in 2026 — instead, it would make a $4 million dent in next year's forecasted $10 million deficit and allow the city to "hold the line" with existing staff and programs.

The city council will hold its first of several public hearings on the budget next Monday, Oct. 6.

You can weigh in on the city's fiscal future by speaking at city hall at 7 p.m. on Monday or by emailing ccmail@cob.org. More information is available at cob.org/budget.

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What's the Deal With?

Amending table for talk, a piece of public art, sits behind the downtown branch of the Bellingham Public Library. (Charlotte Alden/Cascadia Daily News)

What's the Deal With: Amending Table for Talk?

Have a suggestion for a "What's the Deal With?" Email us at newstips@cascadiadaily.com.

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