UPDATE: June 26, 2025 2:59 p.m.
Following a vote by the Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) Board to end their contract for dispatch services for the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) on January 1, 2026, City of Spokane replied with plans to create their own emergency communications system.
However, they expressed worries about how soon the deadline was set.
In a letter from Mayor Lisa Brown to the Spokane County Commissioners and the SREC Board, she wrote that, “This unilateral and arbitrary deadline will place lives at risk. Indeed, independent subject matter experts recommend at least 18 months to stand up a new PSAP [Public Safety Answering Point].”
“The City does not accept a termination until we have finalized a plan for the safe and smooth transition to a City PSAP and resolved the issue of equitable apportionment,” she wrote.
The City of Spokane also put out an announcement responding to SREC’s decision.
“The SREC Board’s vote to remove Spokane Fire within six months — before the transition plan has been established and funding has been apportioned — is irresponsible and jeopardizes public safety,” wrote the director of communications in City of Spokane’s announcement.
The announcement also included a brief response from Brown, who criticized the early deadline for termination.
“I have no doubt the City of Spokane can create an emergency communications system that ensures uninterrupted, high-quality service to the people we serve and the first responders providing that service. As we work to implement the new system, it is important that arbitrary deadlines not be applied to the process in order to ensure a safe transition,” she said.
The City’s plan, which the announcement said they are “moving forward with establishing”, will utilize funding from future and past apportionments of the sales and use tax dating back to July 25, 2021 and the 911 excise starting in January 2026.
Brown also explained the split occurred because the City of Spokane would not make SREC the dispatch provider for the Spokane Police Department.
“A year ago, the SREC Board threatened to kick out Spokane Fire if Spokane Police did not join. Today, they are following through on that threat despite our continued good-faith efforts to create a regional system that is fair and transparent,” she said in the announcement.
SFD became a member of SREC in 2022. The Spokane Police Department uses its own dispatch center.
City of Spokane’s announcement said that discussion about integrating all of Spokane’s public safety agencies with SREC have been going on for years across multiple mayoral administrations.
Early in Brown’s administration, wrote the director of communications, a consultant assessed the possibility of full integration, but deemed it unfeasible due to concerns about the SREC Board’s governance structure, financial model and service level agreements.
The City’s announcement also said that despite generating more than50 percent of call volume and nearly half of SREC’s tax revenue, they were only granted two seats on SREC’s ten-member board.
The announcement also added that City of Spokane taxpayers contribute 48 percent of SREC’s annual revenue and pay additional user fees that SREC has used to accumulate $33 million in surplus reserves.
The City of Spokane said that it advocated for more representation for their citizens and for improved transparency regarding the use and collection of taxpayer dollars and said that SREC and Spokane County refused to make any modifications.
“Today’s decision by SREC to remove our department from the regional dispatch system is disappointing and shortsighted. SREC’s unwillingness to meaningfully collaborate ignores both operational realities and public interest,” Fire Chief Julie O’Berg said. “Our priority has always been and will remain the safety of our community and seamless coordination in emergencies. That will remain at the forefront during this time of transition.”
Brown ended her letter to Spokane County Commissioners and the SREC Board asking for a meeting in order to resolve some of their problems.
“To further that discussion and to enable to parties to reach an agreement on the equitable apportionment of both taxes, the City and County must meet to resolve the elements of equitable apportionment including finances and service level no later than July 15, 2025,” wrote Brown.
SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) has formally terminated its contract with the Spokane Fire Department (SFD), initiating a six-month transition for the city to establish its own emergency communication services.
This decision follows more than seven years of collaboration and 18 months of engagement with Mayor Lisa Brown’s administration.
SREC released the decision saying that the city of Spokane pursued separation from them.
“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, it has become clear that the city desires local control over its dispatch services and is no longer interested in being part of a fully regionalized, shared model,” Lori Markham, Executive Director of SREC said.
The city of Spokane had proposed changes to the SREC’s governance structure, citing inadequate representation and financial oversight.
SREC stated that they believe the regional model serves all agencies equitably and efficiently.
The decision by the City to establish its own Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) may lead to increased operational costs for residents according to SREC.
“Our focus moving forward is on strengthening regional resilience and advancing our strategic vision for unified high-performing 911 service across Spokane County,” Chief Cody Rohrbach, SREC Board Chair and Fire Chief for Spokane County Fire District 3 said.
SREC said they will continue to support its 20 member agencies committed to regional cooperation.
Original article posted June 26, 2025 8:42 a.m.
