Proposed county budget pairs position cuts with new revenue measures

Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu has submitted a proposed budget for 2027–2028 that combines spending reductions with revenue measures. The county’s September 3 announcement says the recommendation was transmitted to Council September 1.

The proposal would eliminate 35 full-time positions, most of them vacant, and reduce some service contracts and department budgets. The executive’s office estimates those measures would save approximately $5 million.

Proposed revenue measures include using banked flood-control district capacity, increasing general-fund revenue capacity, and a ferry-district levy intended to support ferry needs and reduce pressure on the road fund.

The announcement anticipates council deliberations during the fall and adoption in late November. The figures describe the executive’s recommendation; they should not be read as a final adopted budget. The official release links to the underlying budget documents.