City of Lynden Proposition No. 2026-05 — Levy Lid Lift for Public Safety and Essential Community Services (Whatcom County)

What it does

The City Council of the City of Lynden adopted Resolution No. 26-1148 concerning a levy lid lift to fund public safety and essential community services. This proposition would fund public safety (police and fire), and essential community services (including park and street maintenance, restoring eliminated staff positions, reopening City Hall to the public on Fridays, and offsetting lost funding for the Lynden Community/Senior Center) by authorizing a maximum 2026 property tax levy, for collection in 2027, at $1.54304 per $1,000 of assessed value; authorizing annual increases of 3% for 2027-2035; and using the 2035 levy to calculate future levy limits. Should this Proposition be:

A YES vote means

Lynden's property tax could be set at up to $1.54304 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2027, with 3% yearly increases for 2027-2035, for police, fire, parks, streets, staff positions, Friday City Hall hours and the Community/Senior Center.

A NO vote means

Lynden's property tax would not be raised under this levy lid lift.

What it would cost

1.543 mills: $154 a year for every $100,000 of taxable value (a mill is $1 per $1,000). Taxable value is after exemptions such as homestead; your tax bill or property appraiser shows yours.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Whatcom County ballots

• City of Bellingham Proposition No. 2026-06 — Authorizing the City's Salary Commission to Set the Mayor's Salary
• City of Bellingham Proposition No. 2026-07 — Streamlining the City's Contract Review Process to Allow Electronic Signatures
• City of Bellingham Initiative 26-01 — Prohibition of Algorithmic Price-Fixing in the Rental Market

All Whatcom County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Lynden Proposition No. 2026-05 mean?

Lynden's property tax could be set at up to $1.54304 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2027, with 3% yearly increases for 2027-2035, for police, fire, parks, streets, staff positions, Friday City Hall hours and the Community/Senior Center.

What does a NO vote on City of Lynden Proposition No. 2026-05 mean?

Lynden's property tax would not be raised under this levy lid lift.

How many votes does City of Lynden Proposition No. 2026-05 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City of Lynden Proposition No. 2026-05?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.