KGMI News
By Tracy Ellis
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Whatcom County jail proposal is moving forward.
The Whatcom County Council started the process of putting the measure in front of voters, but they still need to give final approval at a later meeting.
Councilmember Rud Browne joined with three of his colleagues to support
“We have spent two years working on this again, and I think the voters deserve the opportunity to tell us whether they support this or not. I don’t think it’s up to us to decide on their behalf.”
Ken Mann and two other councilmembers were opposed.
“I don’t support the location, I don’t support the size, I don’t support the cost, I don’t support sending another tax increase to the voters that we just sent to them just two years ago. I think it’d fail again.”
The Bellingham City Council has indicated that it wants some changes to the jail agreement before it signs-on.
But, all of the other cities already approved the agreement and any changes would need their approval.
The County Council did address one of the city’s issues by guarantee funding for jail alternatives if voters give the go-ahead to build the jail.
The County Council is up against a deadline.
It has until August 1st to put the proposal on the November ballot.