City of Spokane Responds to SREC Board's Move to Terminate Spokane Fire Department Contract
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~ Spokane, WA - After a recent vote by the Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) Board to terminate its contract for dispatch services for the Spokane Fire Department, the City of Spokane has announced plans to establish its own emergency communications system. The termination of the contract is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

According to Erin Hut, Communications Director for the City of Spokane, discussions about full integration between Spokane's public safety agencies and SREC have been ongoing for years. However, concerns about SREC's governance structure, financial model, and service level agreements have made full integration unfeasible in the past.

The City of Spokane has only two seats on SREC's 10-member board, despite generating more than half of the call volume and nearly half of SREC's tax revenue. This has led to concerns about fair representation and transparency regarding the use and collection of taxpayer dollars.

Over the past year and a half, the City of Spokane has advocated for changes in SREC's governance structure to ensure fair representation for its constituents. However, both SREC and Spokane County have consistently refused to make any modifications.

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As a result, the City of Spokane has decided to move forward with establishing its own emergency communications system. This includes seeking equitable apportionment of funding streams for emergency response services. This will also include seeking past apportionments dating back to July 25, 2021.

The decision by SREC's Board to remove Spokane Fire from their services within six months is being met with criticism from city officials. Mayor Lisa Brown stated that this decision is irresponsible and jeopardizes public safety. She also expressed her confidence in the city's ability to create an emergency communications system that ensures uninterrupted and high-quality service.

Fire Chief Julie O'Berg also expressed disappointment in SREC's decision, calling it shortsighted. She emphasized that their priority remains ensuring the safety of their community and seamless coordination in emergencies. O'Berg also stated that this will remain a top priority during the transition to the new system.

The City of Spokane is now focused on implementing their own emergency communications system and ensuring a smooth transition. They are urging for arbitrary deadlines not to be applied in order to ensure the safety of their community and first responders.

The termination of the contract between SREC and Spokane Fire Department has raised concerns about the future of regional emergency communications. However, city officials remain committed to finding a solution that is fair and transparent for all parties involved.

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