WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Whatcom County Council has been given suggestions as budget talks for the next biennium get underway.

County Executive Satpal Sidhu offered his recommendations for the 2027-28 biennium to the council on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

My Bellingham Now previously reported that Whatcom County is anticipating a $14 million shortfall by 2028.

Sidhu proposed cutting 35 full-time roles and reducing some contracts and department budgets, which would save the county about $5 million. In the proposed budget documents, overall $10 million will be saved in restructuring over the course of the biennium.

The executive’s recommendation would cut across all departments with four exceptions: public works, public defender, the superior court clerk and Washington State University’s Extension Service. In the case of public defender’s office, Sidhu recommends one new position is added to staff. The court clerk office should provide more support to the local court system based on need according to Sidhu.

Sidhu’s office accounts $1.3 million of the health budget will be removed due federal dollars that have gone away. The executive wants to maintain the full budget for the Whatcom County Jail Behavioral Care Center.

Paths towards revenue generation are also being explored, including the implementation of a ferry district levy. That levy was approved by the Council in July, which takes some financial pressure off of the county road fund and helps generate funds for a new Lummi Island ferry.

The council will hear more about the proposed budget at their next meeting on Sept. 15.