SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane City Council voted 5-2 on Monday to approve a new utility tax increases to help cover the city’s $13 million deficit.
The proposed half-percent increases on water, sewer and garbage would add 82 cents per month to the average resident’s bill. The increases would last until the end of 2027.
Residents already face rising costs. Next year, utility bills will go up by more than $8 per month.
“Raise tax rates on the people that can afford it, instead of raising the rate, blanket, for everybody,” said Jeremiah McKee, a Spokane resident.
Gerry Riddle, a lifelong Spokane resident, said the increases hurt seniors on fixed incomes.
“When you retire, you get your monthly checks, and they don’t raise every time the city decides it’s going to raise something. You are on a fixed income,” Riddle said.
The City Council must pass a budget in seven days, but some members question whether utility tax increases are the right approach.
“When we have budget shortfalls like this, we’re looking at cuts only and mostly painful revenue sources. I think this was the best we could do in reacting to that shortfall that we’re experiencing in the middle of our biennial budget,” said Council Member Kitty Klitzke.
Klitzke said the utility tax increases and a parking lot tax increase should cover the city’s deficit. The council is also increasing funding to help low-income residents with utility bills.
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