FERNDALE, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Ferndale could be the latest municipality to add a new criminal justice sales tax.
The Ferndale City Council voted earlier this month to postpone a final decision on the tax until their next meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
If approved, the 0.1% sales tax would add a dime to a $100 purchase.
The Washington State Legislature created the option for eligible cities to add the tax without needing approval from voters in 2025. The motion was originally brought up in front of the Ferndale City Council just under a year ago, but councilmembers decided they needed more background in order to consider approving the tax.
Councilmember Ryan O’Larey expressed skepticism over the tax during their meeting on Aug. 17, saying that he’s heard from an “overwhelming” number of residents who are against it.
“We all agree at this point that we have major financial budget problems and I think we owe it to the community to make sure that we’ve had those really, really tough discussions first before increasing the taxes on the community,” O’Larey said at the meeting. “At most I’d be willing to put it up for an advisory vote.”
State law does not allow for the tax to be approved by voters until June 2028.
Councilmember Herb Porter argued that Ferndale residents are already paying the tax without reaping the full benefits after Whatcom County approved it earlier this year.
“Whether you realize it or not, every time you go to Haggen or the Dollar Store or Walgreens, every time you make a purchase within Ferndale, you’re already paying it,” Porter said. “But like the mayor [Greg Hansen] well said, we’re not benefitting from it.”
Revenue from the tax would fund services ranging from public defense and police staffing to domestic violence advocates and alternative response programs.
It comes as the city estimates that it will need to add at least four more police officers by 2028 to keep pace with population growth.
If approved, the city would start collecting the tax on Jan. 1, 2027. It would be expected to generate about $430,000 in its first year.
My Bellingham Now previously reported on several local municipalities adding the tax, including Bellingham, Lynden, Whatcom County and Skagit County.
