Spokane County approves 20‑year lease with Spokane Indians over one dissent

Spokane County commissioners voted 3–1 on June 16 to approve a new 20‑year lease with the Spokane Indians baseball club, a change county leaders said increases revenue and shifts routine maintenance obligations to the team.

Supporters said the updated agreement strengthens the county’s partnership with the team and provides budgetary relief. "We are more than tripling the rent," Commissioner Jordan said, adding that the team will cover routine maintenance and the county will gain a larger share of future parking revenue. Jordan estimated those provisions could put the county about $250,000 per year ahead and perhaps $4.5 million to $5 million over the 20‑year term.

The lease drew a single dissent. A commissioner who objected to the agreement said the memorandum of understanding and lease negotiations date to 2023 and that too much public money has gone to stadium renovations while the private tenant had not invested enough. "This is a 20 year lease that we will be locking the county into, and I hope that in 20 years... whoever sits in these seats can get a better deal for the taxpayers than we are going to give to them today," the commissioner said, concluding they would vote no.

Commissioner Waldron and other supporters said the revisions improve the county’s position and reduce county maintenance demands. Waldron said shifting parking-lot responsibilities and increasing the county’s parking revenue share benefits other county uses of the Interstate Fairgrounds.

The board voted with Commissioner Jordan, Commissioner Waldron and the presiding officer in favor and one commissioner opposed. The chair announced, "It passes 3 to 1." The board took no further action on the item during the meeting.

What happens next: The lease as approved will take effect according to its terms; commissioners did not schedule additional hearings on this item during the session.