Streets

Spokane's Transportation Benefit District

On October 11th, 2010, the Spokane City Council passed Ordinance C34648, which created a Transportation Benefit District (TBD) in the City of Spokane and identified the transportation improvements to be funded by the TBD.

Upon passage of ordinance C34648 the Transportation Benefit District Board (TBD Board) established a $20 annual vehicle fee. Funds generated by the annual fee will be used to help pay for the preservation and maintenance of the City's existing transportation improvements, facilities, and programs set forth in the Six-Year Pavement Maintenance Program 2019-2025 (PDF 999 KB) of the City's Comprehensive Street Program. Spokane's TBD also allocates a small portion of revenue generated, a minimum of ten percent, to implement the pedestrian program of the City's Comprehensive Street Program.

See the map of completed TBD projects from 2012 thru 2018.

What is a Transportation Benefit District?

A Transportation Benefit District “TBD” is a quasi-municipal corporation and independent taxing district created for the sole purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, providing, and funding transportation improvements within a defined area, or “district.”

View our Transportation Benefit District Fact Sheet (PDF 406 KB).

For more information view our video below.

Spokane TBD Governing Board

Authorized by and Date: Authorized by Ordinance No. C-34648 on October 11, 2010.

Mission Statement/Purpose: Chapter 36.73 of the Revised Code of Washington provides for the establishment of Transportation Benefit Districts by cities and counties to levy and impose various taxes and fees to generate revenues to support transportation improvements within the district that are consistent with state, regional or local transportation plans and necessitated by existing or reasonably foreseeable congestion levels.

The revenue generated by the TBD shall be used specifically for annual improvements for the operation, preservation and maintenance of the City's existing transportation improvements, facilities and programs set forth in the six year pavement maintenance program element of the City's 2011-2016 Six Year Comprehensive Street Program.

Governance: The TBD is a quasi-municipal corporation with specific independent taxing authority. The City Council is the governing authority for the TBD authorized to exercise all statutory powers set forth under Washington state law.

What if I think I have been charged the TBD Fee in error?

If you feel that you have been charged a City of Spokane TBD Fee in error we would like to help you get answers. We know that it is not always convenient for you to get answers to your questions during the regular business day. Please feel free to call 509.625.6252 at any time or view the information below regarding TBD fees.

TBD Fees

Since the implementation of the TBD, the City of Spokane has been made aware of two errors in the Washington State Department of Licensing system that has led to TBD Fees being charged in error. The following should provide you the information you need to resolve issues relating to TBD Fees charged in error.

If you reside in the County and you were assessed a TBD fee:

Please verify whether your vehicle is registered in the City of Spokane or Spokane County. If you have not updated your physical address with the Department of Licensing since your last vehicle tab renewal, and you no longer reside within the City Limits, please contact 509.477.2222 to update your address with the DOL. You will need to visit one of these locations to have your current renewal revised to indicate your new renewal amount due.
If you are a County resident, your vehicle is registered to a county address, and…
1. You have not yet paid your vehicle renewal; please visit one of these locations to have your current renewal revised to indicate the correct renewal amount due.
2. You have already paid your renewal; please fill out this form (PDF 797 KB) and return it with a copy of your paid vehicle registration to one of the following:
  - City of Spokane, 4th Floor Accounting, Attn: TBD Accountant, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201
  - via fax to 509.625.6550

Please contact the City of Spokane by phone at 509.625.6252 if you have further questions. We will help you confirm whether you were charged the TBD Fee in error and provide you assistance in receiving a TBD refund.

If you were charged a TBD Fee on an exempt vehicle, including some trailers, and:

You have not yet paid your vehicle renewal, please visit one of these locations to have your current renewal revised to indicate the correct renewal amount due.
You have paid your renewal and would like to request a refund, please contact the City of Spokane by phone at 509.625.6252. We will help you confirm whether you were charged the TBD Fee in error and provide you assistance in receiving a TBD refund.

We hope this information was helpful – we strive to provide you information that will allow you to resolve TBD related errors in the most direct and timely manner possible. Please be assured that the City of Spokane will continue to work with the DOL to resolve these errors and others as we are made aware of new issues; however, the City of Spokane does not have any authority over the systems and/or programs used to produce vehicle registration renewals – this includes maps and mapping errors, coding errors, etc.

Should you need further assistance please feel free to call our automated TBD phone service at 509.625.6252 – there you will be able to leave a message so that we can return your call during regular business hours.

If you are unsure of whether you live in the City Limits, view the City's map.