Kira Erickson reports from the Langley City Council meeting of Mon., Feb. 2, 2026 for the South Whidbey Record. Read the whole story.
Summary by Perplexity AI
Langley officials are exploring how to use an extra estimated $25,000 in annual lodging tax revenue freed up by a new interlocal tourism agreement that cuts the city’s countywide contribution in half. Mayor Kennedy Horstman proposed directing half of the savings to capital projects and operations at tourism facilities like the visitor center and public restrooms, which have outpaced revenues. The other half would fund grants for affordable housing projects or help cover costly utility hookup fees, though councilmembers debated how tightly such assistance could be targeted to local workers. Horstman plans to bring a formal resolution to the next council meeting.
They Said It
According to a memo from Mayor Kennedy Horstman, roughly 25% of overall lodging taxes collected by the city of Langley were committed to Island County joint tourism funding. But the proposed update to the interlocal agreement is expected to reduce Langley’s contribution to joint tourism funding by half, a recalculation that aligns with other municipalities.
During a city council meeting Monday night, Horstman explained that half of the recuperation could be directed to increase funding for capital improvements and operation of tourism facilities in Langley, including the visitor’s center and public restrooms.
“Our expenses have exceeded our revenues in recent years,” Horstman said. “We want to make sure that we can actually maintain our facilities, and saving our tourism dollars to cover both operations and capital improvements means that’s something that we don’t have to look to the general fund to do.”
Councilmember Dominique Emerson wondered if it might be appropriate to add language specifying that the affordable housing development is only for people who work in Langley, but Horstman said she wasn’t sure if that criteria would be legal, but it could be a goal. Councilmember Chris Carlson said a housing developer wouldn’t be able to limit their residents geographically. Councilmember Thomas Gill added there is a “dubiousness” about how much that can be enforced.
Councilmember Craig Cyr pointed out that utility connections are expensive, and grant money is not available. Horstman acknowledged that Langley nonprofit affordable housing developers, like Coyla Shepard of Tiny Houses in the Name of Christ and Whidbey Island Living Legacy, have attested how costly it is to address development fee requirements in the city. Carlson pointed out that Shepard’s numbers for sewer and water connection and permit fees totaled up to about $17,000 per unit. With the amount of funding set aside by Langley, this would likely mean covering the cost of only one connection per year.
Cyr applauded David Price, a Langley citizen and business owner, for doing the research and finding out that lodging tax revenue can be put towards affordable housing.
