Resident urges Spokane County to adopt 0.1% sales tax under RCW 82.14.530 to fund housing

Becky Duckerhoof, a resident who spoke during the open public forum at the Spokane County Board of Commissioners' June 24 consent agenda meeting, asked the county to enact a one‑tenth of one percent sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.530 to generate funds for housing construction and services.

Duckerhoof told commissioners that, “Housing solves homelessness, saves taxpayers money, and saves lives,” and said the county should adopt what is commonly referred to as a 15/90 tax that “allows the county legislative authority to impose a sales and use tax not to exceed one‑tenth of one percent.” She said at least 60% of revenue under that measure “must be used for the construction of housing and related services” and the remainder for operations and delivery of housing services.

Duckerhoof cited several national homelessness figures in her remarks, saying homelessness has increased 18% since the “Grama Pass decision,” that 770,000 U.S. residents sleep in shelters, on streets, or in vehicles, and that 21,000,000 renters pay more than they can afford to maintain housing. She also referenced pending federal legislation, saying, “In 2 days, our congress members Jayapal and Frost, along with the National Homelessness Law Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and Miriam's Kitchen will be sponsoring the Housing Not Handcuffs Act.”

No commissioner action on the request was taken during the meeting. The comment was part of the open public forum; the board made no motion or vote related to the tax proposal during the session.

The meeting record included a written copy of Duckerhoof’s comments, and the chair closed the public forum after she finished and after a third and final call for additional speakers produced none.