Spokane County presents 2026 budget overview, levy options and proposed appropriations
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Summary
County staff presented the 2026 preliminary budget and a set of levy options; staff listed multiple fund appropriations and described choices for the property tax levy (0% change, 1% increase, bank capacity, and road-levy shift). The board set dates for levy decisions and the final budget adoption.
Spokane County staff presented a detailed overview of the proposed 2026 budget during the Nov. 4 meeting, described fund-level amendments, and briefed the board on levy options and the timing for final decisions.
Staff summarized proposed appropriations and adjustments across funds: an elections appropriation of $320,000; $10,000 from the Sheriff’s traffic fee for a dry box; $10,000 donations for parks aquatic sponsorship; $10,000 donation to animal control for kennel repairs; and a $38,200,000 appropriation from 2024 fund balance (ARP funds moved to general fund) in non-departmental. Internal services were noted to need $4,300,000 to address 2026 liability fund increases. The housing/community development fund recorded a $4,300,000 increase from program income and additional grants received in 2024. Staff also noted state and local grant increases totaling $20,000,000 and IT fund additions of $167,000 for technology purchases. Several large purchase-order rollovers (notably sheriff helicopter and ERP project) were also listed.
Staff reviewed fund categories (special revenue, debt, capital, enterprise, internal service) and said the county maintains strong bond ratings; debt outstanding was described as approximately $144,000,000 in general obligation bonds with roughly $1.2 billion in theoretical debt capacity. Staff said the county plans campus infrastructure work funded by debt and other capital projects.
The presentation explained levy options and mechanics. Staff provided example impacts for a $425,000 home under several scenarios: no rate change, a 1% levy increase, 1% plus bank capacity, and a road-levy shift (which would spread a road levy across the whole county). Staff noted that the general fund preliminary budget is approximately $266,300,000 for 2026. The board and staff discussed state mandates, including a noted state-driven building investment of roughly $30,000,000 and a directive to increase attorney staffing which were described as obligations that can limit local spending flexibility.
Staff said the next decision points are a Nov. 17 meeting (levy decisions) and final adoption scheduled for Dec. 1. Public testimony on the budget was opened and closed with no speakers during this session.
