Lisa Gardner, City Council Communications Director, lgardner@spokanecity.org
Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
During Wednesday night's legislative session, the Spokane City Council voted 6-1 to approve an ordinance implementing the Public Safety Program Sales Tax Investments. The program establishes a 0.01% local option sales and use tax to fund the Community Safety Campus and mental health response investments.
In 2025, the Washington State Legislature authorized cities and counties that meet best-practice policy and training requirements to use additional funding mechanisms to improve community safety. House Bill 2015 authorizes local councils to enact a 0.1% sales and use tax through a council legislative act.
“This will create a safer Spokane for all,” said Council Member Paul Dillon. “With the passage of this ordinance, we will have historic capacity for mental health- related calls and the right response for the right call. While we are fully aware of the challenges with a sales tax, this will ultimately result in cost savings for residents.”
Revenues from the local option tax will fund the City's new Community Safety Campus. In August, the Mayor and Spokane City Council began due diligence on purchasing the Community Safety Campus, which will serve as a central hub at the Rock Pointe East Building on Boone. The new facility will consolidate all community safety operations, including court and police operations currently spread across three buildings leased from Spokane County.? Purchasing the Rock Pointe East Building is expected to dramatically improve the efficiency of the City's municipal court operations and save the City millions of dollars in structural improvements planned for its current county facilities.
"We are grateful to our legislators for recognizing the challenges that Washington cities are facing in integrating comprehensive approaches that address the full spectrum of public safety concerns.” Council Member Kitty Klitzke said, “Whether it is improving the safety and efficiency of our court system or ensuring the right responder arrives at the right time, this funding will help us shape a healthier, safer future for Spokane.”
“After riding along with Spokane Fire Department’s Behavioral Response Unit (BRU), it is clear that Spokane, like communities across the country, needs more resources to address our addiction and behavioral health crises,” said Council Member Kate Telis. “I’ve heard our community’s concerns, and I know we must better integrate behavioral health and addiction treatment into our criminal justice system. Funding a Public Safety Campus is a critical step toward building a safer, healthier Spokane.”
Additionally, revenues from the Community Safety Sales Tax will allow the City to further integrate behavioral health into public safety systems and improve emergency preparedness by implementing the state's Public Safety Funding Program.?The effective date of the Community Safety Sales Tax is January 1, 2027. The one-tenth of one percent will cost $1 for every $ 1,000 residents and visitors spend in the city, with necessities like food, prescriptions, and rent exempt.
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