Whatcom County HB 2015 Public Safety Sales Tax (councilmanic — under consideration)
0.10% county-wide public safety sales tax authorized by HB 2015 (2025). As of March 2026, Whatcom County Council was actively debating whether to impose this tax councilmanically (no voter approval required if action ...
About this revenue source
0.10% county-wide public safety sales tax authorized by HB 2015 (2025). As of March 2026, Whatcom County Council was actively debating whether to impose this tax councilmanically (no voter approval required if action taken by June 30, 2028) or to put it before voters. A Whatcom council member is on the record observing: 'unfortunately that was a decision made for us by the state legislature' — meaning the legislature removed voter approval as a prerequisite.
If imposed county-wide, would stack with Bellingham's already-enacted city version of the same tax (Bellingham residents would pay both layers on every retail purchase).
Authorization
Statutory citation: HB 2015 (2025) §201; RCW 82.14 (uncodified section)