Spokane County planning staff briefed the board on Sept. 30 about a $700,000 legislative appropriation for periodic updates to the comprehensive plan. Staff said the appropriation was split over two fiscal years and that the county used the first $350,000 in the prior year and the remaining portion is being accepted in two parts so funds can be used through an extended schedule granted by the legislature.

Staff said roughly two‑thirds and one‑third splits were planned for the remaining $350,000 to allow use of funds over the six‑month extension the legislature provided. The county intends to use most PUG funds for consultant work on background and production tasks, while continuing to cover long‑range planning staff with ARPA funds through June; staff said as ARPA funds expire they plan to mix PUG funds with climate/resiliency funds where permitted to extend staff support. A county staff member explained the grant is reimbursable and that reimbursement is based on deliverables rather than detailed receipts: "We send in the deliverables. They judge it satisfactory, and they send a check."

Commissioners asked about whether the county could use grant funds to cover staffing. Staff said consultant work will be the main use but they expect to apply some grant dollars to staff costs where contract terms allow; climate resiliency grant funds were identified as more flexible and may be used for climate‑related comp plan elements. Staff said one long‑range staff position will not be refilled and ARPA funds have been applied to cover current staffing until June.

No formal vote was taken in the briefing; staff requested acceptance and placement of the fiscal‑year portion of the PUG allocation in county budgeting and said they would return with additional budget detail.