Due to forecasted strong winds, City of Spokane first responders, Spokane 311, as well as Street and Parks crews, are preparing to respond to calls for assistance and reports of damage. More information.

The following is a statement from District 1 Council Member Jonathan Bingle:

“Washingtonians have just faced the largest tax increase in state history. Families and small businesses are feeling the strain. Everyone is being asked to do more with less, everyone except the government.

I have consistently opposed raising your taxes and will continue to do so. I refuse to support increasing the taxes you pay on your utility bills, when you shop at a downtown business that has to pay for parking, or when you renew your car tabs. I refuse.

Raising taxes when reasonable alternatives exist is lazy at best and, at worst, fiscally immoral. We should focus solely on funding essential government functions, such as public safety, roads, and utility infrastructure. At the very least, we should keep our budget flat for the next few years, avoiding the creation of new departments and the hiring of redundant staff.

Raising taxes has become the government's default response, but enough is enough. The people deserve a government that lives within its means, just as every family in Spokane does. I will continue to advocate for a leaner, more accountable budget that respects taxpayers and the voters who expect us to be responsible stewards of their hard-earned money.”