Spokane City Council Adopts 2025/2026 Biennial City Budget
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~ During Monday's Legislative Session, the Spokane City Council made significant decisions regarding the city's budget and community-oriented policing services. The council voted to adopt the 2025-2026 Biennial City Budget and gave a final vote on the Community-Oriented Policing Services (C.O.P.S) contract.

Council President Betsy Wilkerson expressed her satisfaction with the budget, stating that it reflects the shared priorities of both the council and administration. She also highlighted the challenges of transitioning to a biennial budget, which required long-term thinking and careful consideration of sustainable initiatives while being mindful of necessary cutbacks. Wilkerson emphasized that both parties worked diligently to prioritize the needs of Spokane residents in their budget decisions, with a focus on maintaining service-oriented approaches in areas such as neighborhoods, parks, public safety, infrastructure, and overall city health.

Some key items from the budget that were deemed wins for both Council and Administration include funding for RV abandonment towing and disposal, $3.2 million allocated for Fire Department Overtime during the biennium, and three additional Code Enforcement positions for litter control with a dedicated four-person team for downtown.

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In addition to the budget vote, Council also approved a contract extension for C.O.P.S services until March 31, 2025 at a cost of $125,000. The administration has been tasked with completing a procurement process for similar community policing services by April 1, 2025.

Council Member Kitty Klitzke spoke about the challenges of achieving public safety and acceptable service levels with limited funds but expressed confidence in C.O.P.S' ability to thrive during this transition period as they diversify their funding sources. She also noted that responsible spending was a key focus in this biennium budget and credited the hard work of both Council and administration in achieving it.

The adopted biennial budget will take effect on January 1, 2025, covering both 2025 and 2026. Moving forward, the Council will rely on the administration to implement the approved budget.

Overall, the decisions made during Monday's Legislative Session reflect a collaborative effort between the Council and administration to prioritize the needs of Spokane residents while being mindful of budget constraints. With a focus on responsible spending and maintaining essential services, the city is poised to continue thriving in the coming years.

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