There has been much information shared about the Healthy Children’s Fund (HCF) and the initiative to repeal it. The purpose of this article is to provide an update on the League’s involvement.
When the League became aware of Initiative I-2021-01 to Repeal the Healthy Children’s Fund (HCF), Ordinance 2022-045, the League decided by Board vote to oppose repealing the Ordinance. The League had supported the HCF when it was first proposed in 2021 and passed in 2022 based at least partly on our position on Women’s Economic Security in Whatcom County. Based on the continued needs of our community for childcare and family support services, the current board decided that our support must continue.
The Advocacy Team researched the initiative to repeal the HCF. With a visit to the Auditors’ office, we obtained the original initiative. Two points stood out. First, according to the County Charter, an initiative is required for introducing new laws. A referendum is needed to remove an existing law. A referendum needs more signatures to get it to the ballot (6,392 versus 11,034 in 2024).
Secondly, the application and the signature page from
https://www.soundeconomywa.com/ states, “WHEREAS, the resilient people of Whatcom County are currently grappling with the weight of Proposition 5, which imposes an oppressive 25.33% increase in county property tax”. This is not true. The HCF raised our total property tax by 2-3% depending upon where you live in the county.
A letter was sent to the County Council expressing our concerns. In the meantime, some Council members also had questions concerning the initiative versus referendum dilemma.
The League read a letter to the Council on July 9, 2024, urging them to seek the guidance of the Whatcom County Superior Court regarding the legality of Initiative I-2024-01 to repeal the HCF. The League also stressed the belief that informed voters are essential to our democracy and that voters should be presented with factual information when asked to sign a petition of any kind.
The Council voted that evening on the motion to seek guidance from the Whatcom County Superior Court. It passed 4 to 2 with one abstention.
The Advocacy Team will continue to monitor the outcome and will keep you informed.
Dorie Belisle, Team Lead