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Council briefed on proposed extension of River District TIF/LIFT, 3-year capital priorities include road and trail extensions
Summary
City staff reviewed the tax-increment financing (TIF) and Local Infrastructure Financing Tool (LIFT) program, proposed a five-year TIF extension to sustain the state dollar-for-dollar match and listed $16.2 million of potential public improvements over three years, subject to partner approvals.
City economic-development staffer Kyle presented a three-year update and sought council direction on extending the city’s tax-increment financing area and continuing the state LIFT match.
Kyle explained the mechanism: the city uses a base year for property taxes; growth above that base generates an increment that funds public improvements in the River District. “It’s a dollar for dollar match,” Kyle said of the LIFT program; he added that the state match effectively doubles local contributions up to the statutory cap.
Staff reported the TIF/LIFT program has enabled more than $23 million in projects since 2007, including the Kramer Overpass and recent Cataldo Avenue extension. For the next three years staff proposed a rolling list of eligible improvements totaling roughly $16.2 million, led by Greenstone and other private partners: Kramer extension north to Indiana, Cataldo extension east to Mission, Harvest Parkway extension south, a Harvard–Wellington roundabout, a Harvard Road trailhead, a North Liberty Lake Plaza and a placeholder for STA transit parking.
Kyle said the city’s increment fund stood near $9.5 million at the start of 2025 and the program could generate roughly $2–2.5 million annually through 2027 depending on assessments and completed reimbursements. City staff recommended briefing the Spokane County commissioners and presenting a resolution on April 15 to extend the TIF five years, to 12/31/2030, with county and Spokane Valley Fire concurrence required for ratification.
Councilors asked clarifying questions. One member noted that the chief value is the state match and another asked whether any projects are planned north of the Spokane River in the unincorporated area; staff said no projects are currently planned in that portion. Councilmember Dan Dunn and others asked about how pooled increments return value to the city; staff replied that most of the revenue development area lies within the city and public improvements donated by developers accrue to city infrastructure.
No final council vote was taken at the briefing; staff will bring a resolution listing eligible projects at the next regular meeting and will brief county commissioners if council indicates intent to extend.
