WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. -- The Bellingham City Council Monday discussed putting a levy on the November ballot to pay for low-income housing programs.

The measure would raise property taxes in the city by 36 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.

That would increase the taxes on a quarter million dollar home by about $90 a year.

Teresa Meurs with hope house street outreach told the council that subsidized housing works to keep homeless people off the streets.



She says the city will save money by getting homeless people into housing rather than letting them put a burden on hospitals and jails.

The council directed city staff to rewrite the measure splitting the levy into two separate funds with the majority going toward homeless housing.

The council will consider putting the redrafted levy on the November ballot on June 4th.