Spokane: Mayor Brown Introduces 2027-2028 Budget Proposal

~ Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown has introduced a proposed 2027-2028 biennial budget that she says would maintain essential services and invest in community priorities amid rising costs.

The city faces financial pressures from inflation, high fuel prices, rising employee health care costs and wildfire damage recovery, according to the mayor's office. The proposal includes a dedicated downtown bike and foot patrol unit within the Spokane Police Department, with year-round coverage in the downtown business improvement district and coordination with crisis response and code enforcement teams.

Other proposed investments include hiring a public records officer to improve response times, creating an Office of Performance & Innovation to expand data and analytics work, and adding staff to the Emergency Management Department. The emergency management investment would also include dedicated liaisons from the Spokane Fire Department.

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The budget would support the Spokane Safe & Healthy Task Force's work with regional partners through a Safe & Healthy Coordinating Council. It also provides for a justice navigation center that would bring municipal justice system operations—including judges, public defenders, prosecutors and police administration—from four leased facilities into one city-owned facility.

Brown said the proposal preserves services residents depend on while continuing investments in community safety and well-being. She cited efforts to reduce crime, establish crisis outreach teams and restore the Neighborhood Resource Officer Program and Traffic Safety Unit.

The proposal now goes to the Spokane City Council for review. Under state law, the budget must be finalized by Dec. 31, 2026.

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