County Executive Jack Louws says the budget includes no new tax increases, but it does include a proposed fee for on-site septic systems.
He says county staffing levels will remain the same as 2012.
However, a reduction in Medicare reimbursements is expected to drive up the costs for emergency medical service and draw down the county's reserves by more than $1 million next year.
Louws says the county only has about $4 million in reserves.
County council member sam crawford wants to remove the EMS fund from the overall budget proposal, giving the county and the city of bellingham time to find a way to cut costs for their ambulance service.
