Voters will be asked to pass a property tax increase in February that would pay for 20 police officers and 30 firefighters as well as criminal justice programs.
The Spokane City Council approved putting the measure to raise an additional $5.8 million on the ballot during their regular Monday meeting.
The tax increase on a $200,000 home would be $60 a year. That’s 30 cents on every $1,000 of assessed value, according to the city.
The measure, which is opposed by Mayor David Condon, would pay to keep 30 of the 48 firefighters hired through the federal SAFER grant which will expire next year. The grant allowed the city to hire firefighters to staff Alternative Response Units, which are smaller vehicles that go to medical emergencies, and allow fire trucks to respond to other emergencies.