Spokane

City of Spokane
Community Safety Proposal

Investing in a safer Spokane for all

Investing in Community Safety

City of Spokane voters approved a Community Safety Sales Tax to fund new investments for Spokane Fire, Spokane Police, the Office of the Police Ombuds, and Spokane Municipal Court. This sales tax will generate around $6.5 million annually for the City of Spokane through 2035. Funds will be placed in a dedicated Community Safety Fund to provide additional transparency and accountability.

How much does it cost?

The one-tenth of one percent sales tax will cost $1 for every $1,000 residents and visitors spend in the City, with several necessities like food, prescription drugs, and rent exempted. The City will begin collecting funds from the sales tax on April 1, 2025.

Community Safety Investments Chart

Key Funding Investments

Spokane Fire Badge
SPOKANE FIRE
  • Replacing the department's already outdated fleet
  • Fire station improvements
  • Updating equipment
  • Reinstating the Fire Academy
Spokane Police Officer
SPOKANE POLICE
  • Relaunching the Neighborhood Resource Officer program to deepen relationships, assist with chronic nuisances, and collaboratively address community safety challenges
  • Reconstituting a robust Traffic Unit
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OFFICE OF THE POLICE OMBUDS
  • Increasing staffing to manage increased complaints, contacts, and referrals
  • Increasing visibility and accessibility through community outreach and education
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MUNICIPAL COURT
  • Sustaining evidence-based therapeutic courts
  • Sustaining electronic monitoring and pre-trial case management

These investments will reduce strain on the jail, time to disposition, failure to appear rates, re-arrest, and pre-trial detention rates