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Spokane County presents 2026 general fund revenue estimate of about $266.3 million; no property-tax increase assumed
Summary
County finance staff presented the first 2026 revenue roundtable, projecting $266.3 million in general fund revenue, $63.4 million in property tax revenue, and a 2% sales-tax growth assumption; commissioners deferred property-tax decisions to November public hearings.
Spokane County finance staff on the record presented the county's 2026 general fund revenue estimate and opened a public roundtable on revenue assumptions for the upcoming budget.
Why it matters: The revenue outlook frames the county's budget decisions for 2026, including whether to use banked capacity, a one-percent property-tax increase, or a road-levy shift; commissioners said those policy choices will be taken up in public hearings in November.
Key figures and assumptions
- Total general fund revenue projected: about $266,300,000 (2026 estimate presented by county finance staff). - Property tax estimate for 2026: $63,400,000, with no one-percent increase, road-levy shift or use of banked capacity built into the current estimate. - One-percent property-tax increase would yield about $675,000; road-levy shift maximum estimated at about $7,500,000; banked capacity available roughly $393,000. - Sales and use tax: staff moved from a 0% projection earlier in the year to a 2% growth estimate for the remainder of the year and projected 2% growth for 2026; a 25‑year average growth rate is about 3.9%. - Interest income estimate: about $9,000,000 in 2026 after certain internal fund interest allocations to the general fund. - Charges for services: law-enforcement contracts estimated at about $31,400,000; detention-related contract revenue about $17,200,000.
Process and next steps
Finance Director Jeff McMorris and staff said the board will decide on property-tax policy items during public hearings in November and that the next public roundtable will cover the expenditure side on Oct. 14 (evening session at 5:30 p.m.).
Public participation
The commissioners opened the floor for public comment during the roundtable and announced additional meetings where residents can testify on revenue and expenditure assumptions.
Ending
County staff presented the revenue-side assumptions to frame upcoming budget deliberations; policy decisions on property-tax increases, banked capacity and levy shifts are reserved for November hearings.
