The Tally Subscribe

Regular session · No. 01

The Tally

Local government, by the numbers.

Bellingham · Whatcom · Skagit · North Sound

What's decided, what it costs, and how we're tracking.

Monday, October 12, 2026Covers Oct. 3–22A 1-minute summary. Tap through for the rest.
Call to order

The week in 30 seconds

Four numbers we counted, then what moved. Tap any card or line for the full version.

Whatcom County · Tuesday$6.8Mup for a final vote, 64% on consentThe docket Bellingham · housing33% behindthe 2045 goal's pace. 66 permitted in 30 days, 5% underThe goal Nov. 3 · campaign money19%of $1.54M raised came from Whatcom. $567K in outside spending, 75% againstWhere the money comes from Whatcom County · open decisions280 dayswithout a vote on the performance-audit ordinance. 6 decisions open 90+ daysThe tracker

Daily police and fire activity for Bellingham: Civic Informer. We link to it rather than republish it.

  1. StoryBellingham vs. the regionSelling kratom becomes a crime in Bellingham on Tuesday. Mount Vernon did the same. Spokane and Othello issue tickets instead. The story

  2. ConnectionBlaine · Birch Bay · SkagitWho delivers local services is being redrawn: Blaine is giving land back to the county, Birch Bay wants to become a city, and Skagit is handing senior centers to a nonprofit. The connection

  3. StoryWhatcom County · who decidesThe board that redraws city lines is missing two of its five members, and both Blaine's land return and Birch Bay's city bid are waiting on it. The story

  4. ConnectionStatewide, landing locallyNew state laws now set local rules on permit deadlines, shelters and police plate cameras. The connection

The rest of this issue

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This issue

The stories

5 full stories, 5 briefs and 3 connections: what happened, why it matters, what's next.

Lead: same product, different punishment, depending on the city.Read the stories This issue

This week

What's up for a vote, what it costs, and 9 meetings Oct. 13–22 with calendar links.

$6.8M up for a final vote at the County on Tuesday, 64% on consent.See the week Always current

The decision tracker

19 open decisions by topic, with where each one stands and what happens next.

6 open 90+ days. Longest: performance audits, 280 days without a vote.Open the tracker Always current

By the numbers

The scoreboard and 9 charts: the 2045 housing goal, the pipeline, permits by year, rentals and more.

Housing permits are 33% behind the goal's even pace.Open the data Nov. 3

Elections: money and turnout

Where the money in 8 contested races comes from, the local measures, and ballots returned.

19% of $1.54M raised came from Whatcom addresses. Ballots mail by Oct. 16.Open elections About

How we count

Every source and method, corrections, past issues, and the poll on what we dig into next.

Vote: which story should we chase next?Open About
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