Residents of two Whatcom County fire protection districts now have an unusual opportunity to shape how their neighbors understand upcoming levy measures. The Whatcom County Auditor's Office is recruiting volunteers to write committee statements that will appear in the official local voters' pamphlet for the August 4, 2026 Primary and Special Election.
The need arises because neither Fire Protection District 1 nor Fire Protection District 21 appointed their own committee members to write explanatory statements for their respective ballot measures. Under RCW 29A.32.280, when a district fails to appoint statement writers, the county auditor is required to step in and recruit up to three people per committee to fill the gap. The statements go directly into the voters' pamphlet that every registered voter in the district receives before the election.
Two separate measures are at issue. The first is a proposed Regular Property Tax Levy Lid Lift for Fire Protection District 1, Proposition 2026-02. Both a "for" committee and an "against" committee are needed for this measure. The second is a proposed Regular Property Tax Levy for Fire Protection District 21, Proposition 2026-03, which needs an "against" committee only.
Property tax levy lid lifts are a common tool fire districts use when the assessed value of properties in their jurisdiction is rising faster than their budget. State law limits how much a district's levy rate can increase year over year; a lid lift allows voters to authorize the district to collect a higher rate than the cap would otherwise allow. Regular property tax levies function similarly, funding ongoing operations rather than specific capital projects or debt.
To be eligible to serve on a statement committee, a person must be a registered voter who lives within the fire protection district for which they are applying. They must also be willing to work cooperatively with other committee members and sign a pledge to that effect. The district resolutions and explanatory statements for each measure are available on the county website for review before applying.
This is a relatively rare chance for ordinary Whatcom County residents to have a direct voice in how ballot measures are explained to their neighbors. Voters' pamphlet statements are often the primary source of information that people consult when deciding how to vote on local levy questions, particularly for fire district measures that don't generate much news coverage.
Anyone interested in serving on a committee should contact the Whatcom County Auditor's Office at 360-778-5102 or elections@co.whatcom.wa.us. The auditor's office will have more information about application deadlines and the statement-writing process.
