SPOKANE, Wash. - The price to park in Downtown Spokane could be on the rise if some members of the Spokane City Council get their way.
Some members are looking at taxing all paid parking lots in order to help balance Spokane's $12 million deficit.
“This deficit isn't going away by magic," said Council President Joe Shogan.
Shogan thinks a parking tax on private pay lots is the best course of action.
Tax rates could range anywhere from $10 to $100 per year for each space. That extra tax would then most likely be passed on to drivers by the parking lot owners.
The City of Spokane is also considering taxing their own meters, but for now private parking seems to be their focus.
“We need downtown as active and vibrant as possible to have our conventions be a success,” said Kevin Twohig, who runs the Convention Center, Spokane Veterans Arena and the INB Performing Arts Center.
The proposed tax would charge his three lots alone $300,000 per year.
The Downtown Spokane Partnership worries the proposal could drive customers away as prices rise.
“Downtown has and continues to do its share in continuing to add to sales tax revenue and property tax, but they need to stop looking at downtown as the sole source,” said Marty Dickinson of the Downtown Spokane Partnership.
The City Council will meet next week to study the ideas and if things go forward they will take public input.
