Whatcom County to commit to criminal justice and mental health enhancement

So, how exactly will Whatcom pay for new behavioral health and criminal justice funding priorities while saving up to pay down the bond for the new health-centered jail?

The answer is Whatcom County has committed to paying for additional and expanded behavioral health services and programs right now - even before the ballot measure prop 4 should pass. This funding will continue during the first four to six years of the bond program because there are projects in the Implementation Plan that need to move forward irrespective of what the voters decide. The County has committed to funding 18 anticipated actions with existing funding sources (not levy funds). These actions include initial or partial funding for most projects in the Implementation Plan.

Notably, the County and the Cities have agreed in principle that 100% of the County's revenue and 50% of the cities’ revenue will be used “for cost-effective terms of bonding for the construction of the jail” during the first four to six years after the levy passes,

After the first four to six years of the bonding period when the bond cost is reduced, a “minimum of 50% of the…tax revenue will be used for projects as prioritized in the Justice Project Implementation Plan, such as the construction and operation of behavioral health facilities serving populations outside of the County jail, expansion of incarceration reduction programs, increasing access to community-based behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services, re-entry programs, supportive housing, diversion programs, and accountability measures that monitor progress and inform future planning…”

Image: Whatcom EMS