City of Spokane, Spokane County, Spokane Regional Emergency Communications Approve Interlocal Agreement to Support Safe, Coordinated Transition of Emergency Communication Services

Erin Hut, Communications Director, ehut@spokanecity.org

Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 12:55 p.m.

Following a series of good-faith negotiations, the City of Spokane, Spokane County, and Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) have collectively approved an interlocal agreement to safely transition emergency communications services.  

This long-term agreement sets clear expectations for how emergency communications and funding will transition as the City of Spokane moves forward with the creation and implementation of its own public safety answering point (PSAP), while ensuring uninterrupted 911 service for the public.  

The agreement allows for a two-year, phased transition that identifies key operational milestones. This ensures work happens in the right order and provides time for coordination, testing, and problem-solving along the way. The transition will begin in January 2026, with full implementation of the City’s PSAP set for January 2028. 

Emergency Communications Operations 

SREC currently provides call-taking and dispatch services for 21 law enforcement and fire agencies across Spokane County, including the Spokane Fire Department (SFD). SREC answers and passes through calls for the Spokane Police Department, but handles all Crime Check calls and report writing.  

Over the two-year transition, the City of Spokane will become responsible for all call-taking and dispatch services for SFD, SPD, Crime Check calls and report writing within city limits.   

Funding 

As responsibilities shift over time, funding will adjust accordingly. This ensures that agencies are resourced for the services they are providing, avoids sudden financial disruptions, and supports fairness and transparency for all parties.  

SREC is currently funded by three sources: a 911 excise tax, a sales tax, and user fees. Over the course of the transition, the City will take on a portion of all of these revenues.  

  • 911 Excise Tax: During the transition, the City will receive a population-based percentage of the excise tax, with plans to change the allocation to a tax origination percentage upon full PSAP implementation.  
  • Sales Tax: The City will also utilize a tax origination percentage of the sales tax revenue during the transition, with a weighted average percentage set to go into effect upon full implementation.  
  • User Fees: The City will pay full user fees to SREC for the first year of the transition and 50 percent during the second.  

Expectations for the Public 

Public safety remains the top priority throughout this entire process. Throughout the transition, all 911 calls will be answered and managed appropriately.  

All three entities have committed to ongoing coordination and as milestones approach, the agencies will communicate jointly so employees and the public understand what is changing and what is not.  

“This agreement reflects our collective priority of protecting the people of the Spokane region. It places public safety at the forefront and ensures that our residents receive reliable, uninterrupted emergency response,” Mayor Lisa Brown said. “As the City of Spokane moves forward with establishing its own primary PSAP, this agreement will provide a clear, coordinated, and safe transition for all partners involved.”  

"Putting people first has always been a priority for the greater good of Spokane," said Spokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson. "Establishing an agreement that benefits both city and county residents demonstrates that collective governance is possible and ensures our critical public safety communication remains continuous."  

“Spokane County residents expect their leaders to work together to solve big problems. I am pleased we were able to overcome long-standing differences in reaching this agreement, which protects public safety and resolves funding conflicts. I look forward to ongoing collaboration as we move forward,” Spokane County Commissioner Chris Jordan said.  

"Today, we reached a long-awaited milestone. This agreement respects the 2006 voter-approved measure and ensures uninterrupted 911 services for our region. We are committed to continuing high standards of public safety for all residents,” said Spokane County Commissioner Al French. 

“Our priority has always been ensuring the entire community is well served, and that meant committing to a solution that supports everyone’s success,” said Cody Rohrbach, Spokane County Fire District 3 Chief and Chair of the SREC Board of Directors. “I appreciate the City of Spokane and Spokane County for engaging in a thoughtful, respectful process that allowed us to work through complex issues collaboratively. This agreement honors each agency’s responsibility to serve its residents while establishing a fair and equitable framework for sharing resources.” 

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