Spokane Valley residents have the opportunity to vote on a public safety ballot measure in August
Proposed 0.1% increase in sales tax will fund new police officers and increase public safety
Spokane Valley, WA — At the April 15 Spokane Valley City Council meeting, Councilmembers voted 5-1 to adopt an ordinance placing a public safety sales tax ballot measure on the August 5 primary election. Voters will be asked to vote on a public safety ballot measure that would raise the sales tax by one-tenth of one percent (0.1%). If the ballot measure passes, the City of Spokane Valley will use the funding to hire at least 10 new police officers and strengthen public safety.
“These new positions will significantly improve public safety by ensuring faster emergency response times, more neighborhood patrols, enhanced drug and property crime investigative capabilities, safer roads, a comprehensive homelessness response and enhanced school safety for our children,” said Spokane Valley Police Chief Dave Ellis.
The proposed sales tax equates to 10 cents on a $100 purchase. The City estimates that it will cost the average Spokane Valley resident $12.43 per year – or less than $29 per household. On top of that, about half of the sales tax that the City collects will come from people who live outside Spokane Valley.
Public safety for a growing community
The City of Spokane Valley’s population has grown by 31% since its incorporation 22 years ago. This growth has outpaced police staffing levels and has stretched public safety resources thin. Today, officers handle approximately 50,000 calls annually — but with less patrol staffing than similar-sized cities, leading to increasing response times and a decrease in proactive policing. Calls for public safety services have surged by 54% since 2004, driven in part by the rising drug and mental health crisis.
With increased demand and limited funding, response times for calls related to life or safety threats have increased by 28% since 2020, and the Spokane Valley Police Department (SVPD) doesn’t have the resources to fully investigate all cases. Recruiting, hiring, training and employing officers has also become more costly.
To address these challenges, in 2023, the City hired Matrix Consulting Group Ltd. (Matrix) to conduct an extensive review of the SVPD’s needs, operations and staffing levels, including the calls for service, responses to calls for service, caseload for investigative units and operational delivery. The study identified a need for 31 more police personnel in addition to the department’s existing 91 dedicated officers and 37 shared positions.
Responding to the public’s demand for public safety
This ballot initiative arose out of input from City of Spokane Valley residents about prioritizing public safety and supporting the findings from the study. When polled in 2024, the majority of respondents said they preferred a dedicated portion of the local sales tax to go toward hiring, training and equipping new officers.
“Being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars means listening to our citizens,” says Mayor Pam Haley. “This ballot measure proposal reflects the voices of our community, and we believe our voters deserve the final say. They will decide if they would like to increase sales tax to improve public safety in Spokane Valley.”
Responsible financial stewardship
Since incorporation 22 years ago, the City of Spokane Valley has never raised the general sales tax, and the City Council has not taken the state-allowed one-percent annual property tax increase in 16 years.
The City Council approved Phase I of a new Police Staffing Plan in 2024, leading to 12 positions, including 10 officers. Phase I was fully funded in 2025 without any additional taxes by reprioritizing existing resources and making reductions of $1.3 million (5%) in non-police departments. As a result, 64% of the city budget is now spent on public safety rather than other programs and services. Phase II will require additional revenues to fund the remaining necessary positions.
“Without this increase in sales tax, we will have to make do with the police force we have, which will lead to burnout and declining response times,” explained Chief Ellis.
“We have been exceptional stewards of taxpayer resources, and the current city budget reflects prioritizing public safety. However, hiring this next phase of additional officers will require new revenues — funds the City does not currently have,” shared Mayor Haley. “I urge every resident of Spokane Valley to take action and make your voice heard by voting in the primary election on August 5.”
Learn more at www.SpokaneValleyWA.gov/911.
###
