BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Whatcom County Council is split over a new proposed tax to fund criminal justice services.

The council voted 6-1 on Tuesday, March 24 to postpone its decision on implementing the 0.1% sales tax.

If approved, it would add a dime to a $100 purchase and the county expects it to raise up to $7 million in annual revenue amid rising costs for many of its criminal justice services.

Several speakers showed up for the public comment period, with some asking the council to come up with a specific list of what the tax would be spent on and let the voters decide.

Council members Ben Elenbaas and Mark Stremler both voiced their support for sending the tax to voters, with Elenbaas citing widespread opposition from his constituents.

“I’m having a hard time looking my neighbor in the face and telling them that they need to pay more cause I said so,” Elenbaas said following the public comment. “Now if they say ‘yes we’re willing to pay more,’ I do see a need.”

Council member Kaylee Galloway was the lone “no” vote for tabling the discussion, emphasizing the need for urgency with so many public safety services riding on the tax revenue.

“I am very, very concerned around the fact that we did approve a fiscal year 2026 budget that relied upon community priority fund and spending down fund balance to afford our jail health contract and our sheriff office lease,” Galloway said at the meeting. “I think it’s unpalatable for us to ask our sheriff to absorb $5-7 million that looks like firing sheriff’s deputies.”

The council ultimately decided to leave the public hearing open until a future council meeting on either April 7 or 14.

The cities of Bellingham and Lynden along with Skagit County have already all approved the new tax, which was created by the state legislature last year and does not require approval from voters.