Council approves emergency budget amendment to cover $8 million in employee medical claims
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Summary
Spokane City Council approved an emergency ordinance amending the biennial budget to cover increased employee medical claims, a measure council announced passed 7‑0. Public commenters questioned budgeting and consultant contracting practices tied to other emergency items on the agenda.
The Spokane City Council approved an emergency budget amendment on Oct. 28 to cover increased employee medical claims, with the council announcing passage by voice vote as 7‑0.
Clerk reading identified ordinance C36789 as an amendment to the biennial budget due to increased medical claims experience and declared it an emergency. Public commenter Larry Andrews criticized emergency spending levels and questioned fiscal oversight. Andrews referenced other emergency items on the agenda, including a consulting contract for code modernization, and asked why out‑of‑state consultants were hired.
Council proceeded to vote after limited public comment; the clerk recorded the ordinance as passed 7‑0. The ordinance amends the employee benefits fund budget to meet current claims experience; the emergency declaration accelerates implementation. Council did not appropriate other new recurring personnel costs in this item but approved supplemental spending to cover near‑term claims payments.
The council did not provide detailed budget figures beyond the stated $8,000,000 emergency increase during the public presentation; staff follow‑up was referenced in subsequent discussion and public testimony.
