Levy Initiative:

The City of Spokane is proposing a community safety levy that would provide necessary resources to Spokane Fire, Spokane Police, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, Criminal Justice, the Office of Emergency Management, and Spokane Parks to maintain existing levels of service, while also bringing new citywide and neighborhood enhancements.

What would be included?

Fire Department and Emergency Response Expansion:

• Implementing a long-term capital plan for the fire department including constructing a new fire station and improving facilities, replacing the aged fleet, and broadening services. This levy would fund the purchase of an estimated 18 large apparatus, and 21 lighter duty vehicles to ensure a timely, safe, and appropriate response including during active wildfires.
• Expanding the BRU/CARES program to better address community health emergencies.
• Increasing mental health and peer support services for firefighters to ensure their well-being and readiness.

Community Policing Enhancement:

• Expansion of community policing efforts through the relaunch of the Neighborhood Resource Officer program and introduction of 12 neighborhood resource officers, 6 neighborhood traffic officers, and 7 downtown foot patrols.
• Enhancing capital needs, including but not limited to, replacing 132 police vehicles.
• Improving overall safety for officers and community members, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring timely and reliable police response.

Oversight and Accountability in Law Enforcement:

• Increasing funding for additional Police Ombudsman staff and training, coupled with necessary capital investments to boost oversight and transparency.

Justice System Improvements:

• Providing ongoing support for staffing the Courts and Municipal Justice pilot programs, which have shown early success in streamlining legal process, reducing case backlogs, and reducing strain on the jail.

Community Resiliency:

• Emergency preparedness – Enhancing the city-operated management preparedness to bolster citywide resilience against natural and man-made disasters.
• Safe Streets Capacity Expansion – Enhancing the capacity of safe streets initiatives to improve urban mobility and reduce traffic-related incidents through all Spokane neighborhoods.
• Safety in parks – Adding up to four park rangers to enhance safety and security in Spokane's neighborhood parks, ensuring these spaces remain welcoming and safe for all residents.

Why is levy funding necessary for these services?

The City of Spokane is facing a $50 million budget deficit across all accounts. This levy aims to not only preserve existing community safety services, but meaningfully expand them.

This levy proposal addresses the City's structural gap and ensures that Spokane can continue to provide indispensable police and fire protection without severe service reductions that will otherwise be necessary.