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Spokane council adds utility-tax package for first reading and schedules final vote
Summary
The Spokane City Council added a package of utility-tax ordinances for first reading Nov. 17 and moved final consideration to Nov. 24, 2025; council also adopted a related amendment to the local option transportation tax that will be taken up on Nov. 24. Several related ordinances were deferred to Dec. 8 for further review.
Spokane City Council members on Nov. 17 voted to add a package of ordinances that would extend the city—s utility tax and adjust utility rates, then set them for final consideration on Nov. 24, 2025.
Policy director Mr. Wright told the council the package includes an ordinance to extend the utility tax for another year at an additional half-percent and companion ordinances to change water, sewer and other utility rates. After discussion about timing and public testimony, the council voted to suspend rules and add ordinances C36811—C36815 for first reading and to consider them for final action on Nov. 24. The transcript records the related motions passing on voice vote with a 5—2 tally reported in roll-call comments.
Council members debated whether to speed consideration to align with the budget process or to allow additional public comment. Council member McQuiskey said taking the item up sooner would help budget clarity; others, including council member Spohn, noted many residents had signed up to testify and cautioned that deferral would affect that opportunity. Ultimately the body combined a procedural suspension of the rules with scheduling that preserves opportunities for testimony.
Separately, the council adopted a Wilkerson-proposed amendment to ordinance C36801 on the local option transportation tax; that amendment carries an automatic deferral to Nov. 24, 2025 unless the rules are further suspended. Council members emphasized the amendment—s fiscal implications for the mid-biennial budget and noted subsequent budget amendments will reflect any decisions on timing.
The council also accepted a procedural deferral request from the council president for ordinances 367776 and 367777 (related to sewer and water services) to final consideration on Dec. 8. Mr. Wright said the deferral was requested so staff (including Marlene Feist) could see how the council reacted to other utility ordinances on the agenda and adjust rates accordingly.
What happens next: the ordinances added for first reading are scheduled for final consideration on Nov. 24, 2025; the sewer/water ordinances have been deferred to Dec. 8. The council recorded motions and voice tallies in the meeting transcript; formal roll-call votes and ordinance texts will appear in the official Nov. 24 agenda packet.
