On Friday, August 30, 2024, The Bellingham Herald reported that a hearing on a challenge to Whatcom County’s child care tax initiative was postponed after the judge recused himself.
Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Robert Olson removed himself from the case on Friday morning after a motion was filed requesting his recusal. Judge Olson did not provide details about the motion but said that state law disqualified him from presiding over the hearing. With short notice, a new hearing was rescheduled for the following Tuesday in Judge Lee Grochmal’s courtroom.
The challenge to the ballot initiative was brought by a political action committee called Protect Whatcom Kids, which includes influential figures in Whatcom County politics and social services. The group claims that procedural errors and false statements were made during the signature gathering process to put the initiative on the ballot. Additionally, Protect Whatcom Kids argues that the initiative oversteps the scope of a ballot measure by interfering with the county’s budget authority.
The initiative, if passed, would repeal a tax that funds early childhood education programs in Whatcom County. Passed in 2022 by only 20 votes, Proposition 5 levies a 19-cent tax per $1,000 of assessed home value. It is estimated to generate around $10 million annually for child care assistance. Whatcom County has already made plans and signed contracts based on the expected funding from this tax.
The lawsuit names Tim Koetje, a Lynden business owner who led the petition drive, as well as Whatcom County and Auditor Stacy Henthorn as defendants. Separately, the Whatcom County Council has also asked the court to rule on the validity of the ballot measure. Supporters of the repeal campaign have formed a political action committee called Washingtonians for a Sound Economy.
Source: The Bellingham Herald
