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Spokane Valley council approves ordinance to place 0.1% public safety sales tax on August ballot
Summary
Council voted to place a one-tenth of one percent sales-and-use tax for public safety on the Aug. 5, 2025 ballot, directing revenue to fund a minimum of 10 additional officers over two years if voters approve.
Spokane Valley — The City Council voted April 15 to place a one-tenth of one percent sales-and-use tax measure on the Aug. 5, 2025 ballot to fund public safety staffing and equipment. The ordinance (No. 25-004) was approved following a public hearing and council discussion of how revenue would be used.
Deputy City Manager Eric Lam and Police Chief Dave Ellis recommended the ballot measure and the council discussed an amended explanatory statement that specifies the funds may be used only for public safety and recommends a “minimum of 10 additional officers within the next two years, including vehicles and equipment” if voters authorize the tax. Lam said the Public Safety Committee met after the council’s earlier public hearing and supported the focus on funding as many additional officers as possible while maintaining existing contracted services.
Council Member Merkel said he opposed using a tax increase, arguing the council should first look for savings inside the city budget; others, including Council Member Patton, said the public should be allowed to vote. Council members also discussed indirect costs paid to Spokane County for contracted services; staff said indirect cost increases for 2023 were being reconciled and that the county’s contract costs rose about 22% year over year in the most recent audit reconciliation.
The ordinance would put a 0.1% sales-and-use tax on the ballot under RCW 82.14.0450, and the ballot language was clarified in the ordinance packet to restrict use of funds to public safety. The council approved placing the measure on the ballot; members recorded the motion and “Motion passes.” No changes to the city’s budget were made at the meeting; Lam and Chief Ellis said if voters approve the tax, the council’s Public Safety Committee recommends directing revenues to hiring officers, patrol, schools, behavioral health response, investigations and safer streets.
Quotes in this article are from Eric Lam, Police Chief Dave Ellis and council members in the April 15 meeting transcript.
