Spokane voters likely pass 0.1% sales tax for public safety improvements

SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane’s community safety sales tax is looking likely to pass.

Proposition 1 would raise the sales tax by 0.1% and allocate funds to the Spokane Fire Department and Spokane Police Department.

Fire Chief Julie O’Berg said the money will go towards upkeep of the department’s infrastructure as well as repairing fire truck fleets.

“Really the primary thing for us is our engines, our ladder replacement and our brush truck replacement schedules,” O’Berg said. “We are still a little bit behind on those and this is going to allow us to get on a replacement schedule to get our fleet healthy.”

Both the fire and police departments are set to received over $4.3 million over the next two years. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said both she and the departments are very happy with this result.

“We have new leadership at police and fire, Chief O’Berg and Chief Hall,” Mayor Brown said. “They are both pleased this gives them a little bit of financial stability as we move forward.”

Some of the funding from this tax will also go toward the office of ombuds and the municipal courts.

“Municipal court is really an important part of our justice system so making sure they can move forward with some of those things that deter people from jail but also prevent re-offense is really important,” Mayor Brown said.

She also said the tax will help cleanup downtown.

“Community safety, neighborhood resource officers, traffic safety…we’ve had fatalities downtown, so this is going to be really important in both the enhancement of safety downtown and in our neighborhood business districts like Garland,” said Mayor Brown.

This sales tax will cost $1 for every $1,000 spent in the City of Spokane by both visitors and residents.

The city said the tax will go into effect April 1.