When do our taxes, voted in 2023, go to work on our “Justice Center”?

Skagit Jail

Are any of you as tired as I am paying taxes for projects that get postponed continually? What does it take to get that Jail built?!  In 2023, voters approved a 0.2% tax to pay for a new jail by 63%. “Total cost to build the jail, on land that Whatcom County owns on LaBounty Drive in Ferndale, is about $150 million. Construction will take an estimated four years. In addition, the agreement made public Monday establishes a jail oversight advisory board and requires an annual sheriff’s briefing on its operation. It also creates a financial oversight board to make recommendations on jail construction, funding and operation. Voters approved a 0.2% tax to pay for a new jail by 63% in November 2023, after rejecting tax measures in 2015 and 2017. It was estimated that the tax will collect some $13 million to $14 million annually, allowing the county to finance the jail with bonds.”

Info taken from an article posted in the Bham Herald in April, 2024 shows details of agreement between the County Government and the “small Towns” of Whatcom County: Agreement shows how Whatcom County, cities will share jail tax | Bellingham Herald

In Conclusion:
So why are we not seeing the construction of this facility and where is our money going? In 2004, voters approved a Jail Tax. Where did that money go?!

County Council Meeting: testimony shows need for new Sheriff’s Office as well as Justice Center….

Last week’s County Council Meeting was informative. I recommend you scroll to Open Session and listen to the many public comments regarding the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. Apparently, Satpal Sidhu is considering leaving the Sheriff’s Office out of the plan for the new facility. If you didn’t get a chance to tune in, here is the replay:

Council on 2025-04-15 6:00 PM – MEETING

I recommend you click on Open Session and listen to the many public comments regarding the ongoing HEALTH and SAFETY concerns of the Sheriff’s Office. Many public

County Courthouse

comments pointed to ongoing issues with “brown liquid” dripping through the ceiling of the Sheriff’s Office onto staff desks, onto critical evidence needed for criminal cases, and more. One officer even brought in the “staff issued” plastic used to protect his desk from said liquid.

If the Sheriff’s Office situation isn’t enough to cause a Recall on Satpal, nothing will. His lack of leadership that has wasted MILLIONS of our Taxes while leaving our Sheriff’s Office in shambles, our jail crumbling, our criminal justice system failing has absolutely impacted Whatcom County in the worst way. Please contact the WHATCOM County Council and URGE Action on building out the new jail/sheriff’s office. They cannot wait for all of the pieces to be in place before beginning this multi-year project. It’s costing us now, it needs to be built NOW! council@co.whatcom.wa.us

BE BRAVE WA.