WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County voters will likely decide in November whether to keep paying a property tax to help fund childcare services.

The initiative now moves to the county council that can either adopt the initiative and forego a vote by the public, or amendment it.

The Whatcom County Auditor’s Office certified the initiative petition signatures collected by opponents of the tax, and an amended version would appear on the ballot as an alternative to the original this November.

Proposition 5 passed by just 20 votes in the November 2022 election after a late surge of “cured” ballots pushed it over the top.

It was established to help pay for early childhood education, childcare and other support for children in homeless or low-income families.

The measure raised property taxes by 19 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or $95 for a $500,000 property. Critics say that’s a heavy burden for many county residents.