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County outlines funding options: road fund limits, TB district, FEMA and a stormwater utility
Summary
County staff discussed funding paths for Point Roberts projects: limited road funds (usable only in rights-of-way), FEMA for emergency work, transportation-benefit district gas-tax revenues and the creation of a stormwater utility district to generate ongoing revenue for stormwater management.
Whatcom County staff and the technical team walked through the practical constraints of paying for the proposed projects. Josh Tia, engineering manager for design and construction, said the county's road fund must be spent in the roadway right-of-way and cannot be used to address private-property driveway culvert issues; FEMA funds are available for declared emergencies; and state and federal grants may be available for projects with water-quality benefits.
Tia also described the stormwater utility approach used elsewhere in the county: "…to create a utility district for stormwater to generate revenue." The panel explained that Point Roberts already has a local transportation-benefit district (some gas-tax revenue stays in the peninsula) and that a utility would be a separate, ongoing revenue source that can be used on private-property benefits in some cases. Staff said decisions about forming a utility or applying for grants will move to county council and the county executive for funding approval.
