|
Governmental Services at Birch Bay (A Draft) |
||
|
Up Dated
11/14/2005 (New Up
Dates in Blue) |
||
| Birch Bay is a rapidly growing area. People are moving here from
most every state. Many have experienced townships, parishes, cities, towns,
village, county, and combination of county/city in one government. I will
attempt to explain how the various governmental agencies work to supply
services for Birch Bay. Birch Bay Water & Sewer District does have taxing authority. It does operate on a fee for service basis. Because the district has taxing authority its tax base is figured by the Whatcom County Assessor. If someone has told you that Birch Bay has sent property tax of $1,000,000 to the county road department, this is probably figured on that year's assessed value of the water/sewer district. Fire 13 has taxing authority and operates on a service for tax basis. The City of Blaine contracts with Fire 13 for its fire services and fire marshal services. Birch Bay's and the rest of Fire 13's fire marshal services are provided by Whatcom County. The Fire Rating Bureau is a non profit agency funded by insurance companies, The Fire 13 area has a fire rating of 5 which is very good. It is not just the efficiency of the fire district alone that determines the fire rating of a community. The building and codes agency that oversees building and remodeling of the community contributes much to the fire rating. Another important factor is the placement of fire hydrants in relationship to dwellings and the availability of water to them. Fire 7 has taxing authority and operates on a service for tax basis. The dividing line between Fire 13 and Fire 7 is Bay Road. Like Blaine that contracts with Fire 13 for fire services, Ferndale contracts with Fire 7 for its fire services. Emergency Medical Services is a service paid by both tax and fee. It operates out of the Bellingham Fire Department. They are highly trained medics. The county pays its share (That is your share.) out of the general fund. Bellingham pays for its share out of the city budget. Your health insurance will also help pay. The simplified view is that the users pay 1/3, Bellingham pays 1/3. and the county pays 1/3. It is interesting to note that through property taxes to the general fund the people of Bellingham are contributing to Emergency Medical Services twice. Birch Bay Lighting District is administered by Whatcom county. It is maintained by Puget Power. The lighting district is one of a kind for Whatcom County. It has been costing about $35,000 a year to operate the district. You pay for this service when you pay your property tax bill but it is not a tax. It is a fee for service. If you have a street light out call Puget Sound Energy at 1-888-225-5773. Whatcom County Library System has taxing authority and operates on a service for tax basis. County residents may use the Bellingham Public Library because of a inter-local agreement. ( At one time the agreement was the city residents could use the county library services and the county residents could use the city library services. The city would keep its library financial support at the same level as the library tax rate for the county. [Bellingham assessed value times .0048.] ) Birch Bay residents can use the libraries in any of the smaller cities (county library system) or Bellingham. Blaine School District 503 covers the area of Pt. Roberts, Blaine and Birch Bay. It includes the Cherry Pt. Industrial area. The district operates on a tax for service basis. This school district benefits from one of the highest assessed valuations per student. This is because the Cherry Point Industrial Area contributes to its tax base. They are your tax-paying partner to the Blaine School District. Some fees are charged for services to students. Whatcom County Road District is administered by Whatcom County. Presently, the county maintains over 1000 miles of county roads. County roads are built by the county Engineering Department and maintained by the Road Department. Every 6 years or so the county road department will chip seal a road. They will also keep the weeds on the roadside mowed. Birch Bay has around 30 miles of county roads. Whatcom County Planning Department is responsible for the planning and land use of the county which includes Birch Bay. The Birch Bay Steering Committee was formed as a way to help shape the growth that is occurring at Birch Bay. Whatcom County Sheriff's Department is supported from the general fund of the county. The County Sheriff's Patrol is responsible for law enforcement in all unincorporated areas of Whatcom County. Northwest Park and Recreation District includes everything in Blaine
School District except Point Roberts. It has a very strong tax base. At present this district is dormant.
|