Transportation Benefit District (TBD)

The City of Blaine operates under a balanced budget, and has passed all financial and accountability audits by the state. City services (such as police, planning, economic development, the community center, streets, parks, library, and youth programs) are primarily funded by a tax on some utilities, a sales tax, and a property tax levy. You can find a full copy of the City's 2017 Budget (PDF).

The City has been working with residents and businesses to identify priorities for services and projects as part of a Strategic Economic Initiative completed this year. Learn more about this initiative.Like most cities, the demand for services in Blaine is higher than the revenue available to provide them. The City is limited by law to a one percent revenue increase per year on its property tax levy. It also retains less than one percent of the 8.5% sales tax remitted to the state. This is causing the City to look at different ways to fund the services and projects that local residents want.

Long-term, we need to have a conversation with our community about how to fund large projects like a library and cultural center. Short-term, we are focused on maintaining and improving streets, sidewalks and trail connections. Good transportation links are critical to economic development, which attracts and keeps businesses in Blaine, and welcomes people for shopping and tourism – all of which generate revenue for City services local residents want.

After the City asked, voters approved a Transportation Benefit District (TBD) for this purpose during the April 25, 2017 Special Election. The TBD will be funded for 10 years through two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) sales tax. This will make Blaine's total sales tax rate 8.7%, which is the same as the neighboring communities of Bellingham, Lynden and Ferndale. It will generate approximately $200,000 a year for transportation projects and programs, and help the city provide matching funds for grant requests. View a list of priority projects (PDF).

Please let us know if you have any questions about the TBD or would like to be participate in public discussions about what projects should be funded by email. Thank you!