Spokane County commissioners send renewal, boundary expansion of Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie aquifer protection area to August ballot; West Plains PFAS and

Spokane County commissioners voted unanimously April 22 to ask voters whether to renew and slightly redraw the Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) Aquifer Protection Area and to add the City of Spokane to the district.

The measure, presented by county water‑resources staff as a renewal rather than a new levy, would keep the current per‑parcel fee structure and send a resolution to the county auditor for placement on the August 2025 ballot. Staff said the program currently collects about $1.5 million a year and that including the City of Spokane would add an estimated $1.8 million annually under the existing fee schedule.

Why it matters: The SVRP Aquifer Protection Area funds monitoring, education, planning and limited capital work tied to groundwater protection. County staff and commissioners said continuing the program preserves four decades of monitoring and outreach and would give voters a chance to decide whether to continue those activities for another 20 years.

County presentation and staff estimates Ben Bridal, a Spokane County water‑resources presenter, outlined the timeline for the renewal and the need to deliver documents to the auditor by May 2 to make the August ballot. Kyle Tuig, senior director of public works, told the board the APA fee has not changed in about 40 years and that the program has consistently funded monitoring and education.

Tuig said the renewal keeps the current parcel fee (a single‑family residence that uses county water and an on‑site wastewater system would be charged $30 a year under the retained structure), and that revenues are distributed to participating municipalities and the county for water‑related activities. "That fee has been unchanged in 40 years," Tuig said, describing…