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Charter commission narrowly rejects supermajority requirement for county property tax increases
Summary
After public testimony and extended debate, the Charter Review Commission voted 7–8 against a proposed amendment requiring a supermajority of council members to approve county property tax increases.
The Whatcom County Charter Review Commission debated a citizen-drafted amendment that would require a supermajority of County Council votes to approve property tax increases and rejected it after robust public comment and commissioner debate.
The amendment, proposed by Commissioner John Mutschler, would have required five of seven council members to approve any increase in the county portion of property taxes beyond statutory exceptions. Proponents said the change would restrain tax growth and protect renters and homeowners; opponents said a supermajority would make it harder to respond to fiscal shortfalls and would force deeper…
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