SPOKANE, Wash. — On Monday night, the Spokane City Council voted 6-1 to approve on a property tax levy that would raise money for fire and police personnel.
According to the proposed resolution, property owners would pay 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
City leaders said the levy would generate $5.8 million annually. Most of that money would go to hiring new police officers to combat property crime, and to continuing to pay for firefighters whose salaries are currently funded by a federal grant that will soon expire.
The increase would not go into effect until 2020.
Councilman Mike Fagan voted against the levy, citing concern for accountability as to where the money will go and how effective it will be.
The Spokane County Auditor will now hold a special election for the measure on Feb. 12, 2019.