WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Critics of Whatcom County’s tax to help fund childcare services have submitted an initiative to repeal it.

The Whatcom County Auditor’s Office says they received the initiative petition on Monday, June 3, and are in the process of verifying the signatures. It needs 6,392 accepted signatures to move on to the next step of the initiative process.

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.