Spokane City is set to enhance its mental health response capabilities with a significant investment from the county's mental health sales tax dollars. During the Urban Experience Committee meeting on May 12, 2025, officials announced a new interlocal agreement (ILA) that will allocate approximately $650,000 to expand the Spokane Fire Department's Behavioral Response Unit (BRU) from one team to four. This expansion aims to provide nearly 24-hour coverage for psychiatric crises and overdose calls, marking a major step forward in community health services.

The BRU, which consists of a firefighter paramedic and a clinician from Frontier Behavioral Health, has been instrumental in addressing urgent mental health needs. The funding will allow for a more robust response to these critical situations, reflecting a collaborative effort between the city and Spokane County.

In addition to the BRU expansion, the committee discussed a second ILA that will utilize $400,000 from opioid settlement funds to co-invest with the county in expanding sobering beds through the STARS program. This initiative is expected to activate by July 1, providing immediate resources to support individuals in crisis.

Both agreements are pending approval from the Spokane County Board of Commissioners, scheduled for June 10. These developments underscore Spokane's commitment to improving mental health services and addressing the ongoing challenges posed by substance use and mental health crises in the community.