City of Spokane
Community Safety Proposal
Investing in a safer Spokane for all
Virtual Town Hall
City of Spokane residents interested in learning more about the Community Safety Sales Tax proposal are invited to join Mayor Lisa Brown for an upcoming virtual town hall.
Wednesday, October 16th, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Investing in Community Safety
The City of Spokane is proposing a Community Safety Sales Tax to fund new investments for Spokane Fire, Spokane Police, the Office of the Police Ombuds, and Spokane Municipal Court. If approved, this sales tax would generate an estimated $6.5 million annually for the City of Spokane through 2035. Money generated would be placed in a dedicated Community Safety Fund to provide additional transparency and accountability.
How much would it cost?
The proposal is expected to cost $1 for every $1,000 residents and visitors spend in the City, with several necessities like food, prescription drugs, and rent exempted.
Key Funding Investments
SPOKANE FIRE
- Replacing the department's already outdated fleet
- Fire station improvements
- Updating equipment
- Reinstating the Fire Academy
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
OFFICE OF THE POLICE OMBUDS
- Increasing staffing to manage increased complaints, contacts, and referrals
- Increasing visibility and accessibility through community outreach and education
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