March 2018
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New head honcho at border, Community rallies behind Ericksen to have tough election competition, page 8 local man, page 5 page 5
Expect a big increase in property taxes
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Sunrise over Mount Baker ...
B y P a t G r u bb Whatcom County Assessor Keith Willnauer was bang on when he recently advised that county taxpayers could expect a hefty increase in this year’s property taxes. The bad news is written all over the 2018 tax rates that have been sent to the county treasurer’s office to use in issuing individual tax bills. Property owners in Birch Bay, Blaine and Point Roberts can expect percentage increases of 11.8, 12 and 13, respectively, in their property tax bills. For example, the average house value of $276,900 in Birch Bay would see property taxes of $3,118 in 2018, up $329 from 2017. The mill rate (tax per $1,000 valuation) has increased from $10.07 to $11.26. In Blaine, the average house value of $264,800 would generate property taxes of $2,997 in 2018, versus $2,672 in 2017. The mill rate is $11.32 in 2018, up from $10.09 in 2017. In Point Roberts, the average house value of $239,600 would generate property taxes of $2,736 in 2018, versus $2,418 in 2017. The mill rate is $11.42 in 2018, up from $10.09 in 2017. Most of the increase in taxes comes from the hike in state education taxes which have increased 96 cents per $1,000 valuation (from $2.23 to $3.20). This follows the state legislature’s decision to hike the state education levy to comply with Washington State Supreme Court’s McCleary decision requiring the state to fully fund basic K-12 education. Other taxing jurisdictions showing increases are the Blaine school district (up 30.6 cents from $2.496 to $2.8025 per $1,000 valuation) and the county flood control district (up from 12.9 to 16.5 cents). The state legislature intends to claw back some of local school districts’ taxing authority next year but how much is still to be determined. (See Property taxes, page 2)
s With an eagle for company, the sun rises over Mount Baker on February 21 as it makes its annual journey north lasting until the summer solstice. Photo by Pat Grubb
Mandatory trash collection system picks up steam B y P a t G r u bb Aiming for a January 1, 2019 implementation date, county health department staffers Jeff Hegedus and John Wolpers updated the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC) members on the latest steps being taken to establish a mandatory trash collection system for Point Roberts. At the committee’s regular meeting on February 13, Hegedus said, “I’ve looked at
the All Point Bulletin as far back as 2001 and we’re still talking about the same problems [of handling solid waste].” Referring to development in Tsawwassen and in Point Roberts itself, Hegedus said it made sense to implement such a system before development actually occurs. Hegedus reiterated to the audience that the current system of allowing residents exemptions from garbage pickup needed to be repealed. “In Whatcom County, it is the law that people must have curbside
Point Roberts has grown into a hotbed of fiber artists, as any Tuesday night visit to the local library will attest. In addition to sharing ideas and snacks, the knitters, quilters, and other handcrafters who gather there weekly have been planning this year’s Fiber Fest celebration. It’s going to be a doozy. From 1–4 p.m. on Saturday, March 31
(See Trash, page 3)
Online
This year’s Fiber Fest to be a doozy, organizers say By Meg Olson
collection. What we’re proposing to do is to eliminate the exemption,” he said. Dropping the exemption will increase the number of customers to create a viable system in the long run, he stated. The increased customer base “… would provide significantly improved economy of scale, support cost structures, enable higher service levels and reduce illegal dump-
the Gulf Road community center will be filled with demonstrations of the fiber arts, plenty of opportunities to pick up the work of local artists and fiber arts supplies, not to mention a lunch. “It’s going to be busy,” quilter Rose Momsen said. “There’s going to be a lot going on.” The pool room will be home to a quilt show and sale by local quilters. They will also have a “new to you” as well as a ta-
ble selling craft books and supplies. The event will be the kickoff for a raffle of a quilt made by Jane Donaldson as a fundraiser for the local garden club, which will be holding their biennial garden tour this year. There will be many quilting demonstrations, one led by local quilter Judy Ross who will teach how to make fabric book (See Fiber Fest, page 2)
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Inside
Church ............................................... 7 Classifieds ......................................... 16 Coming Up ....................................... 14 Obituary ........................................... 18 Opinion ............................................... 4 Seniors, Library ............................... 15 Tides ................................................. 13