SPOKANE, Wash. — The City of Spokane says $48 million in projects and programs could be impacted if a federal funding freeze goes through, but some programs are still feeling the impact of last week’s temporary freeze.
“We all just feel so vulnerable right now,” said Amanda Perish with the Lands Council. “I’m looking at temporary layoffs as a plan of action. If we don’t receive these funds, I don’t know how to handle payroll.”
While most operations are back on track after last week’s temporary funding freeze, The Lands Council, a local nonprofit, still has a third of its operating budget on hold.
“We’ve been advised to freeze our work,” Perish said. “Because we’re contracted with the city, we have to acquiesce to that request because they’re telling us we won’t be able to reimburse you for that work.”
The city is in the middle of several projects that it expects federal funds to reimburse.
“If a federal funding freeze is permanent, the city could be on the hook for a lot of money that we expect from the federal government,” said Erin Hut with the City of Spokane.
In response to last week’s temporary freeze, the city took a deep dive into which departments could be impacted. It identified almost $50 million in projects and programs that could be at risk.
“It really does touch every person in the city, not necessarily those that just rely on government assistance for housing. It’s things like the tree equity program that provides trees in disadvantaged communities,” Hut said.
The City of Spokane’s tree equity project is a five-year, $6-million initiative that fully funded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture grand. The project is now at risk. You can read our previous coverage on it here.
The Lands Council, which runs two other tree planting projects that are in partnership with the City of Spokane, has had to pause its work as well. It had high hopes for those projects, making this freeze a disappointment.
“I just wish people could know how far reaching the effects of this funding freeze could be,” said Amanda Perish of the Lands Council.
The city said it is still evaluating and working with federal agencies to see what next steps it should take.
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