City of Spokane and City Council Announce 2027 Legislative Priorities

~ The Spokane City Council voted 6-1 Wednesday night to adopt the city's legislative agenda for the 2027 Washington state legislative session.

The agenda includes priorities on fire recovery, taxation, transportation, land preservation, housing and social services. The city said its priorities on state funding for social service programs and housing are expected to benefit historically marginalized communities.

Among the listed issues are support for Spokane Complex fire recovery, a building exemption intended to promote fairer taxation, reform of transportation benefit districts to address streets and sidewalks, and preservation of Thorpe Trust land.

Budget priorities include seeking authorization for a sidewalk utility program or another sustainable funding mechanism for pedestrian-friendly streets, funding for the state Department of Commerce's Clean Energy Technical Assistance Grant Program, and continued Tourism Promotion Assessment funding. The clean-energy funding would support municipal projects at City Hall and the Northeast Community Center, while tourism assessment funds support a significant portion of promotion by Visit Spokane and Spokane Sports, according to the city.

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Other issues include expanding domestic partnership eligibility, regulating data centers, reforming wildfire insurance, protecting cryptocurrency consumers and funding a permanent home for the Salish School of Spokane.

"Securing stable funding and maintaining our infrastructure are the foundation of our legislative priorities heading into 2027," Council Member Kitty Klitzke said. She said the goal is to make city revenue sources more equitable and better aligned with community stakeholders' goals.

Council Member Sarah Dixit said the city would work with state partners on policy, budget and capital project priorities identified by community members, staff and council members. Council Member Paul Dillon said the agenda reflects constituent feedback on transportation improvements, fairer taxation and housing affordability, and prioritizes recovery from the Spokane Complex fire.

The city's legislative team, made up of three council members, city staff and contract lobbyists, meets throughout the year and recommends priorities. The council adopts the agenda under Spokane Municipal Code 02.02.030 after consulting with the team and other parties, the city said.

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