WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County has finalized its latest tax hike that will affect all property owners.

The Whatcom County Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday night, July 28, to approve a $5.7 million initial budget for the new Lummi Island ferry district.

It will institute a levy of 8.7 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value, or $52 per year for the owner of a $600,000 home. The council chose the highest tax rate out of three options following nearly half an hour of public comment.

The council approved the new ferry district in May to help alleviate pressure from the county road fund. The road fund is entirely funded by residents who live in unincorporated areas of the county and currently covers 45% of operating costs for the Lummi Island ferry.

Council member Kaylee Galloway expressed mixed-feelings about voting for the highest levy rate, but believes this “tough decision” will pay off down the road.

“Alleviating the road fund will allow us to unlock infrastructure projects that are long overdue,” Galloway said at the meeting. “I also think infrastructure could be a key economic development strategy for our county. It enables economic development and in itself is economic development. Creating infrastructure is a job creator and enables people to get to work and to recreate and other things that drive economic development in our county.”

Council members Ben Elenbaas and Mark Stremler were the two “no” votes, expressing their concern over adding another significant tax hike to county residents.

In addition to the levy, the county received a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to replace the aging Whatcom Chief with a 20-car hybrid ferry and modernize the existing Lummi Island ferry terminal.

That federal grant is the largest Whatcom County has ever received.

The county is still looking to fill two vacant seats on the Ferry Advisory Committee that need to be occupied by residents living in unincorporated parts of the county.