SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane County voters will soon have the opportunity to decide on a measure to extend a sales tax that fully funds the county’s juvenile detention center.
This current tax collects one cent on every ten dollars spent in Spokane County. The funds generated not only support the detention center but also aid in maintaining the Spokane County Jail.
“This is a renewal, it is not a new tax,” Spokane County Commissioner Mary Kuney said.
In 2023, the sales and use tax for juvenile detention facilities and jails raised $15.8 million, fully funding their 2024 budget of $7.7 million. The funding supports about 140 employees, including guards and teachers who provide mandatory school services.
“It’s important that we have it, as you can see Spokane County is on the forefront of leading in criminal justice for our juvenile detention facilities,” Kuney said.
The measure enjoys bipartisan support with both Democratic County Commissioner Amber Waldref and Republican Sheriff John Nowels on the supportive committee. However, no official group has emerged to oppose the measure publicly.
Sheriff Nowels expressed the importance of these services, saying, “I think it shows that in general, the public understands just how critical these services are and they understand how critical it is that we maintain these services. There’s a lot of good work being done here.”
If the ballot measure does not pass, the county would face challenges in reallocating funds. Non-mandatory services like mental health would be at risk. Juvenile Court Services Director Tori Peterson pointed out, “The medical services and the mental health are not mandated. Those would be the only things I could cut because they’re the only things that are not mandated.”
In 2015, the tax extension was approved by over 69% of voters. If the upcoming measure passes, it would extend the tax for another ten years, the longest extension possible.
