Spokane Valley council advances first reading of 2026 property tax levy, forgoes 1% increase
November 05, 2025 | Spokane Valley, Spokane County, Washington
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"State law requires that we adopt an ordinance in order to levy property taxes," Finance Director Chelsea Walls told the council during the first reading. Walls said the ordinance, as drafted, does not take the 1% increase allowed under state law and instead includes estimated new construction of $200,000, producing an estimated levy of about $14,300,000 on preliminary assessed values and an estimated levy rate of about $0.79 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Walls said the levy figure represents roughly 21% of the city's general fund recurring revenues and is virtually unchanged from the 2025 levy rate. She added that the unused 1% capacity will be "banked for future use" through an existing ordinance that preserves that capacity.
Councilmembers asked clarification questions on the 1% decision and on historical practice. Councilmember Yeager asked whether the 1% was being taken; Walls confirmed it was not. When asked how long the city had foregone the bump, Walls responded that it had been roughly 17 years.
The council voted to advance the ordinance to a second reading and scheduled that reading for Nov. 18. There was no roll-call breakdown recorded on the first-reading motion in the transcript; the presiding officer announced the ordinance passed on voice vote at this stage.
What happens next: staff will prepare the ordinance for a second reading on Nov. 18 and must provide the adopted levy ordinance to Spokane County by November (as required for the levy to be effective).
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