SPOKANE, Wash. — With four weeks to go until the November election, the Spokane City Council did their own voting Monday night on an ordinance regarding the Community Safety Fund appearing on the ballot.
That proposal is set to appear on the ballot next month. If it passes, it will last until the end of 2035.
City Council passed the Community Safety Fund ordinance 5-2 Monday night. In a few short weeks, it'll be up to the voters to decide the fund's fate.
If passed in November, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said the new tax would cost the average Spokanite around $1 for every $1,000 they spend. Necessities like food and prescription drugs would be exempt.
In the original proposal, Brown said roughly $6.5 million per year would stay in the City of Spokane and be used for community safety enhancements.
Monday night's vote also established a sunset provision, essentially an expiration date, for December 31, 2035.
Councilmember Michael Cathcart proposed an amendment to the ordinance, adding restrictions on how the money would be exactly used.
Ultimately, that amendment was not included in the vote. "There's going to be commentary that we're protecting these dollars, even though there's absolutely no definition provided of what community safety is that will [be] up to the whims of any future council, in any future mayor," Cathcart said.
Council President Betsy Wilkerson said she trusts the police and fire departments to use the money equitably. "As we go forward, and yes, we are the body, these funds will have to come to council for approval, so they will have to explain the need for them," Wilkerson said.
If passed, the tax would start April 1.