BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Bellingham residents have a chance to weigh in on the city’s latest tax proposal.

The city is holding a special meeting and public hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 14, to discuss plans for a regional fire authority (RFA).

The city’s budget proposal for 2027 hinges on approval of the RFA, which would put Whatcom Fire District 8 in its own taxing district in an effort to find new sources of revenue.

The upcoming meeting will center around plans for the possible implementation of a fire benefit charge within the RFA.

A fire benefit charge is a fee that’s based on the cost of offering fire protection to each building on a property, which takes into account a building’s size, use and fire risk.

If approved, the charge would fund the city’s fire department through a property tax of up to $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That could cost the owner of a $700,000 home up to $700 a year.

The decisions to form an RFA and set the tax rate each have to be approved by voters, which could take place as soon as February 2027.

The meeting and public hearing take place at 6 p.m. in the council chambers on the second floor of Bellingham City Hall.

There will be sign-up sheets for speakers available outside the chambers before the meeting and people can also submit written comment beforehand via email to fire@cob.org or by physical mail to the Bellingham Regional Fire Authority Planning Committee at 210 Lottie Street in Bellingham, WA 98225.