SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane Valley Fire Department voiced its support for SREC following a statement from the City of Spokane calling out the regional communication system for alleged poor financial decisions.
Spokane’s Director of Communications Erin Hut sent out a purportedly collecting too much revenue from city residents. The City of Spokane also accused SREC of collecting too much revenue from the municipal government.
SVFD responded to the debate regarding the financial decisions of the 911 system used in Spokane County following the City of Spokane’s announcement that SREC would have to make administrative changes for the city to consider joining the regional emergency call network. Spokane Valley Fire argued that the sudden demand for changes seems unnecessary.
According to a statement released by the Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD), their Regional Communication System is effective.
Siding with SREC, SVFD countered the City’s proposal with a concern about increased government control from the City of Spokane.
“The City of Spokane’s proposal to gain control over this well-functioning system raises concerns,” said SVFD in the release. “We believe that introducing additional layers of government oversight, particularly from those less familiar with public safety operations, could jeopardize the high level of service currently being provided. This is not about resisting change but about protecting the quality of public safety services that our community relies on.”
SVFD stated that there were misunderstandings about how SREC managed its finances. SVFD said the City’s financial contribution to SREC has decreased by 3.1% since 2019, while Spokane County’s contribution to the system has increased by 1.4%, according to the Washington Department of Revenue.
SVFD also mentioned a counterargument to the user fees and reserves brought up by Erin Hut, referencing the
“User fees are not allocated to reserves but are specifically designated for operational costs,” said SVFD.
SVFD made their stance clear, stating that they believe the current system is operating efficiently and are not “inclined to negotiate based on political motivations.”
