Spokane City Council considers 0.1% sales tax increase for public safety projects

SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane residents could soon pay more in sales tax under a proposal city council members are set to discuss Wednesday night.

The Spokane City Council is considering a permanent 0.1% sales tax increase that could take effect next year. The city estimates it would generate about $7 million annually for public safety programs.

If approved, the money would help pay for a new police campus to house police administration and municipal courts. It would also fund mental health clinician positions tied to the city’s new 911 system.

Erin Hut with the City of Spokane said the campus could reduce the city’s reliance on leased county buildings.

“Right now, the city pays several million dollars in leases to the county for buildings that we do not own and do not have control over,” Hut said. “As a municipality, we should own our own buildings. It’s better to buy than rent if you can.”

Spokane voters approved a separate public safety sales tax increase in 2024. That funding went toward new fire department equipment and the return of neighborhood resource officers.

The city could approve the proposed increase without another public vote under a Washington law passed last year. The law allows city councils to enact a permanent 0.1% sales tax increase before 2028 if voters had previously approved a sales tax increase.

Longtime Spokane resident Barbara Snyder said she supports the proposal. “I support it. I really trust the city council to do what is right and supportive of our community,” Snyder said.

Snyder said she does not support bypassing a public vote in every case, but believes this proposal warrants an exception. “I don’t mind in this instance. I don’t think I would support that in every instance but thinking this one through, I think yes,” Snyder said.

The council is discussing the proposal at Wednesday night’s meeting and is expected to vote on it Oct. 14th.