Whatcom County Health and Community Services (HCS) has released the 2024-2025 Behavioral Health Fund Report, highlighting how local tax dollars and state and federal grants are supporting mental health and substance use services across our community. The report also addresses past projected shortages, how they were prevented, and what is being done to make sure the fund recovers and stays healthy.
Why This Fund Matters
In 2008, Whatcom County passed the behavioral health sales tax. For every $10 spent, one penny goes into the Behavioral Health Fund. For the past 15 years, this money has helped fund programs that support our most vulnerable neighbors. Its priorities are to fill gaps in mental and behavioral healthcare, improve public safety, and treat the root causes of behavioral health challenges. In addition to the sales tax money, the fund also includes state and federal grants for mental and behavioral health programs.
Key Program Highlights
The new report shares the success of several local programs, including:
Youth Prevention: During the 2024-2025 school year, 2,582 youth received direct mental health and substance use support. Most of these services (75%) reached students living outside of Bellingham. Research shows that every $1 spent on these school programs can save $18 down the road.Alternative Response Team (ART): Launched in 2023, this team of behavioral health specialists is dispatched instead of police officers to non-violent 911 calls. In 2025, ART responded to 2,140 unique non-emergency calls, freeing up police to focus on criminal complaints.Mental Health Court: This program celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025. Over the last decade, more than 155 participants have completed the program. Graduates get help with treatment and can have their legal charges reduced or dismissed, making it easier to pursue education, find housing, and get a job.Understanding the “Continuum of Care”
The county uses a “PITA” framework to invest funds across four key areas:
Prevention ($3.1m in 2025): Youth programs to treat substance use, mental health challenges, build healthy habits, and support families.Intervention ($4.1m in 2025): Helping people deal with unhealthy behaviors, housing, legal, or health struggles as they appear.Treatment ($2.7m in 2025): Providing intensive care for mental illness, substance use, reentry after incarceration, and reducing recidivism.Aftercare ($1.4m in 2025): Supporting long-term mental health recovery and stable housing. These programs reinforce healthy behaviors and crime-free lifestyles.Balancing the Budget for the Future
During the pandemic, Behavioral Health sales tax revenue exceeded projections as people stayed home and shopped. The county used this extra money to start new programs, like putting mental health staff in schools and the downtown library.
Recently, sales tax revenue has slowed as people spend less and fewer visitors come here to shop. To keep the fund healthy, HCS worked with county leaders to cut vacant staff positions, adjust contracts, and reallocate short-term funds to cover costs. Reducing costs will continue into 2027 and 2028 to make sure the fund stays healthy.
To help guide future spending, the 11-member Behavioral Health Advisory Committee (BHAC) has set clear priorities for 2026 through 2028. These include closing gaps in care, improving youth and senior services, and strengthening local health facilities.
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