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Council backs plan to use Prop 1 sales tax revenue for 10 new police positions starting Jan. 2026
Summary
City and Sheriff's Office outlined a staffing plan to use the voter-approved 0.1% public-safety sales tax to hire 10 additional officers, a shared detective and to maintain one previously grant-funded behavioral-health position; recurring cost estimated at $2.24 million.
City officials and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office presented a plan on Oct. 14 to use revenue from the voter-approved 0.1% public-safety sales tax (effective Jan. 1, 2026) to add staff across patrol, investigations, traffic and school-resource functions.
Deputy City Manager Eric Lamb said the sales tax passed in August but will not generate revenue until Jan. 1, 2026, and the council was being asked for direction so Spokane County and the sheriff’s office could prepare hiring and contract language. “That tax, while it passed in August, is not effective until 01/01/2026,” Lamb said.
Spokane Valley Police Chief Dave Ellis outlined the staffing recommendation: three additional patrol officers (raising patrol from 53 to…
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