Whatcom County Government

KNKX Public Radio (NPR) takes a look at our big investment in childcare for working families in Whatcom County:
"“A central purpose for the creation of the fund was to make quality child care more affordable and more accessible, and Kids First will achieve that for more than a thousand families every year. I am very pleased to see this program move forward,” Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu said in a news release.

The program is expected to help around 1,400 children across the county access childcare in its first year."

Whatcom County is investing approximately $7 million into a new financial aid program to help low-income families access childcare.

In its first year, the program is expected to help around 1,400 children across the county access childcare.

📸 Ted S. Warren | AP

UPDATE 12:30 p.m. 8/27: The Whatcom Chief has passed today's U.S. Coast Guard inspection and will resume ferry service at 1 p.m.

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UPDATE: 4:15 p.m., 8/26: The Lummi Island Ferry resumed service at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, and will continue operating until 9 p.m. The remaining scheduled runs after 9 p.m. are canceled.

There will be no ferry service on Thursday, August 27, to allow for a U.S. Coast Guard inspection.

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Whatcom Chief OUTAGE: As of 3:15 p.m., ferry service is suspended until further notice.

We will provide updates as soon as they become available.

Update: The Assessor's Office is open again for business!

Due to unexpected water damage and electrical issue, the Assessor's Office lobby will be closed until further notice. If you need assistance, please call us at 360-778-5050 or email [email protected]. Thank you for your patience!

Executive Sidhu Selects James Marks to Lead Planning and Development Services for Whatcom County

On August 11, 2026, County Executive Satpal Sidhu asked the County Council to confirm James Marks to serve as the next Director of Planning and Development Services. The Council voted unanimously to confirm the Executive’s appointee, who is scheduled to start on September 14.

“James has a reputation for bringing people together and creating an environment where teams can succeed,” Executive Sidhu told the Council. “He looks for practical and innovative ways to remove unnecessary complexity and improve customer service. I am confident he is the right choice to lead Planning & Development Services into its next chapter”

James Marks is a planning and transportation executive with more than 20 years managing teams across public planning and transportation. He currently serves as Alaska Area Planning Principal at HDR Engineering, where he leads a community and transportation planning practice, overseeing corridor plans, freight and hazard mitigation studies, and local planning efforts throughout the state.

For more details, see the announcement here: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/m/newsflash/home/detail/5661

We're overjoyed to share the news that the Whatcom County Council has voted to rename the 3.5-mile-long main trail leading to Canyon Lake (part of the Canyon Lake Community Forest) for our friend Rand Jack! Rand, one of the founders of Whatcom Land Trust, has dedicated his life to working to preserve land in Whatcom County (including this spectacular forest) and so richly deserves this honor. We're also thrilled to feature a story, written by Rand, about the creation of the Stimpson Family Nature Reserve (another of his remarkable accomplishments) in our upcoming Autumn issue, on newsstands next week! See you on the Rand Jack Trail!

Curious about what happens after Election Day? Come see the certification of the August 4, 2026 Primary and Special Election Tuesday, August 18, at 10:00 am in Suite B03 at 311 Grand Avenue.

For more information about the current election, visit www.whatcomcounty.us/CurrentElection.

For more information about observing ballot processing, visit www.whatcomcounty.us/3747/Observer-Resources.

If you have any questions, contact the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office at 360-778-5102 or [email protected].