City Council and Mayor of Spokane, Brown, postpone vote on property tax

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown recently announced that a proposed property tax slated for the ballot has been put on hold. This decision comes after the Spokane City Council voted 5-2 to include Brown’s Community Safety Levy on the August ballot. Brown stated that while there is a real budget deficit in the City of Spokane and a desire to invest in community safety, she believes it is best to pause and conduct additional analysis. The proposed levy, if approved by voters, would have generated $37.5 million annually for the next five years, costing the average homeowner around $31.42 per month. The majority of the funds would have gone towards existing services, with a portion allocated for new city and neighborhood projects. Brown emphasized the importance of gathering input from the public to create a comprehensive plan for the future, while also focusing on fiscal responsibility and tightening the city’s budget.