The Spokane Valley City Council voted 6-1 to advance a public safety tax to fund more police officers in the city. The Spokane Valley public safety measure would appear on the August primary or November general election ballot and create a 0.1% sales tax if approved by voters. City staff estimate the sales tax would generate about $2.6 million annually. Members argued the tax is needed because Spokane County (which staffs the city's police department) is finalizing deputies' collective bargaining agreement, which could cost the city $4.7 million over the next three years. The Public Safety Committee and Spokane Valley Police Chief Dave Ellis also requested seven additional officers be hired. Seven officers would cost more than $1 million annually, plus $390,000 in one-time costs. Al Merkel was the only council member to vote against the tax measure, saying, "I don't think it's wise to ask for those taxes." A public hearing is scheduled at Spokane Valley City Hall on April 1. (VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ)
IN THE HEIGHTS
If you're an Airway Heights resident who's wanted to have more impact on local government, now's your chance. The city is taking applications for two vacancies on Airway Heights City Council until April 8. Council members Kevin Richey and Veronica Messing are both moving out of the community, leaving Council Positions 2 and 3 vacant, according to City Manager Albert Tripp. The current council will hold interviews on April 21 and appoint candidates by May 5. Appointees will fill the spots until the end of the year. If they wish to retain the position, they must run for election this November. (ELIZA BILLINGHAM)
NO MORE FEDERAL ED?
Last week, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to begin the closure of the U.S. Department of Education — an action that was recommended in Project 2025, a far-right guide for the new administration that Trump claimed to know nothing about during his election campaign. "Ultimately, the Department of Education's main functions can, and should, be returned to the States," the order states. Eliminating the Department of Education, however, requires an act of Congress to complete. Some Republican lawmakers have supported the idea for years, and are currently working to introduce a bill to codify Trump's order. Democratic lawmakers have widely opposed the closure of the federal department. "There is no doubt that some of the federal education overreach pushed by presidents of both parties over the last 25 years must be scaled back and brought back to the states," Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal states. "However, that is a policy deliberation that should happen in Congress, and in partnership with the states themselves." (COLTON RASANEN)
CORRECTIONS
In the March 20 issue: The COVID Timeline inaccurately described the health district arguments for firing Dr. Bob Lutz, which did not include internal disciplinary action (there wasn't any), but did reference human resources complaints from prior years.
In the story "Ghost Town to Boomtown," Downtown Spokane Partnership President Emilie Cameron inaccurately referenced $1 billion (which is roughly the city's overall annual sales tax revenue) when talking about sales tax generated from downtown. As the story accurately stated, about 20% of the city's sales tax comes from activity downtown (about $243 million last year).
A layout error also resulted in the omission of our intern Hannah Higens' name, which should have run with her "Shutdown Story" about her COVID experiences on page 19. We regret these errors.
