Frequently Asked Questions

Effective Jan. 1, 2026, the retail sales tax collected on transactions within the City of Spokane Valley is 9.0 percent (0.090). The retailer forwards that sales tax to the Washington State Department of Revenue, which then distributes the taxes to the various agencies that have imposed them.

This is how the tax is allocated:

• State of Washington: 6.50%
• City of Spokane Valley: 0.85%
• Spokane County: 0.15%
• Criminal Justice (Spokane Valley receives a portion of this tax): (v) 0.10%
• Spokane Public Facilities District (v): 0.10%
• Spokane Transit Authority (v): 0.80%
• Public Safety - City (County receives a portion of this tax) (v): 0.01%
• Public Safety - County (Spokane Valley receives a portion of this tax) (v): 0.10%
• Juvenile Jail (v): 0.10%
• Mental Health (v): 0.10%
• Law Enforcement Communications (v): 0.10%

(v) - voter-approved

On Aug. 5, 2025, Spokane Valley voters approved Proposition 1, increased the city’s sales tax rate to 9.0% effective Jan. 1, 2026. The increase in sales tax is dedicated to public safety, including hiring at least 10 additional police officers over the next two years. 

When you file a Washington Combined Excise Tax Return for retail sales transacted within the City's boundaries, use the City's 4-digit location code #3213 in Section III of the return form. The Spokane Valley local rate is 2.4 percent (.024) which reflects the combined total of the local jurisdictions in the chart above.

It is important to accurately record your sales tax collections, so the appropriate sales taxes are allocated to help provide City services. If you have miscoded your rate on a previous return, or have questions, please contact us at 509-720-5041.

The Spokane County Treasurer collects all property taxes for property located in Spokane County, including property located in the City of Spokane Valley.

You'll find the answers on the Spokane County Assessor's Office's Calculating Your Taxes page.

See our Business Startup page for information on:

• City business registrations
• State business licensing
• Federal tax identification numbers
• Quarterly Gambling Taxes

See our Public Notices/Request for Proposals page.

See our Public Notices/Request for Proposals page.

See a copy of the current City budget as well as copies of prior years' budgets.

A copy of the annual budget is available on our Budget and Finance Reports page. A print copy can be obtained by emailing the City Clerk or by calling 509-720-5102. You may also request a copy at City Hall.

Revenues include property and sales taxes, fees for services, direct funding from other governments and miscellaneous other revenues. Revenues supporting core services flow into the General Fund. Read more about revenue sources in our current year's budget.

The General Fund is the accounting entity used to track the revenues and expenditures associated with City services. All of the City’s general tax revenue is accounted for in the General Fund as are expenses associated with police, parks, library services, planning, and building inspection services.

The City uses a number of different “funds” or accounting entities to track revenues and expenditures. Most are required by state law to make sure revenues dedicated for a specific purpose are used appropriately. Examples include the Street Fund which accounts for revenues from gasoline taxes, and the Telephone Utility Tax, both of which are used to maintain city streets.

The City of Spokane Valley’s major expense categories are personnel, overhead/operating expenses, and capital projects. Because city government is primarily a service business, most of its expenses are associated with its employees. Operating expenses include rent, utilities, vehicle costs, basic supplies, and contracts for services, such as when the City contracts with Spokane County for various services.

Yes. This spending limit is referred to as an appropriation, which limits how much the City can spend from each fund. An appropriation is established by City Council during the budget process. Each fund is required to have a balanced budget, the appropriation is designed to ensure that spending doesn’t exceed available resources.

The City of Spokane Valley has approximately $12.79 million in general-purpose debt outstanding as of January 2018. This debt was incurred to provide funding for one-time capital projects and represents just 1.98% of our total debt capacity. We keep this figure low due to our philosophy of "pay as you go," to avoid debt.

City departments begin developing their budget in April. Revenue forecasts are updated and public input is gathered during the summer to be reviewed in August. The City Manager submits estimates of revenues and expenditures to the Council in August. A preliminary budget is developed in September and hearings are held in October with Council approval of the budget in November. By law, the City must adopt a balanced budget by December 31.