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Resident urges Spokane County to adopt local 0.1% sales tax for housing
Summary
A City of Spokane resident urged the Spokane County Board of Commissioners to adopt a local “15/90” sales-and-use tax under RCW 82.14.530 to fund housing construction and services for people experiencing homelessness.
A City of Spokane resident asked the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 7 to pursue a local sales-and-use tax to fund housing for people experiencing homelessness.
Becky Dickerhoof told commissioners she was speaking on behalf of a local nonprofit resolution and cited state data in urging action. “I would guess at least 13,000 households are doing their best to survive without running afoul of the law,” she said. She also disputed that the entire figure in the state report represents visible people living downtown: “There are not 15,802 homeless individuals roaming the downtown area,” she said, referring to the Washington Department of Commerce snapshot of homelessness.
Dickerhoof recommended the county enact what she called a “15/90 tax,” citing RCW 82.14.530. Under the provision she described, a county may impose a sales-and-use tax not to exceed one‑tenth of one percent; she said at least 60% of revenue must go toward housing construction and related services and the remainder to operations or delivery of services. She asked commissioners what the county is doing for households struggling with housing costs and health needs as costs rise.
The comment was delivered during the meeting’s open public forum; no formal action was taken by the board on the proposal during the Oct. 7 consent agenda meeting.
Why it matters: Dickerhoof framed the request as a locally controlled funding option for housing construction and services. Any decision to adopt a local sales‑and‑use tax would require formal board action and, depending on state law and local procedure, additional public hearings or voter action.
What the record shows: Dickerhoof cited the Washington Department of Commerce report and the RCW number she read aloud. The transcript records her remarks during the open public forum but does not show a commissioner response or a motion to pursue the tax at this meeting.
Next steps: The transcript does not record the board referring the proposal to staff or scheduling follow-up; the matter remains a public comment and not a formal agenda action at this meeting.
