SPOKANE, Wash. – Leaders from the city and county reached a significant agreement that will shape the future of emergency call services in Spokane. The city plans to establish its own 911 dispatch center, moving away from its contract with the Spokane Regional Emergency Communications Center (SREC).
The dispute intensified after SREC announced in June that it would terminate its dispatch services contract with the Spokane Fire Department at the start of the new year. With city taxpayers contributing nearly 48 percent of SREC’s annual revenue, discussions about the city’s own dispatch center began to emerge.
A two-year agreement has now been reached among the city of Spokane, Spokane County and SREC.
“When you’re in trouble and you need help you dial those numbers someone needs to answer and the right response needs to come quickly,” said Spokane County Commissioner Chris Jordan at the briefing.
The agreement sets clear expectations regarding funding and shared responsibilities among the three agencies.
“In simpler terms, the city of Spokane will be moving forward, creating our own 911 Call Center in a transition that will take place over the next two years,” said Mayor Lisa Brown.
The agreement resolves past conflicts over funding and tax distribution.
“One big takeaway from the agreement is that the county, the city and Shrek are no longer fighting about how to fairly share sales and excise taxes that support 911 emergency communications,” said Commissioner Jordan.
The resolution outlines how taxes will support the respective 911 programs depending on where they are generated.
“If the taxes are generated within the city of Spokane, they will support the city’s 911 program and vice versa,” said a spokesperson.
With the year 2026 approaching and no clear solution in sight, the agencies were close to taking legal action.
“Local jurisdictions were hurdling toward potential crisis with bitter court battles,” said Commissioner Jordan.
“Can I tell you what we said after we had negotiated? We told the lawyers to get out of the way. We said ‘don’t screw this up.’”
The negotiations took place in a closed setting.
“We were put in a room together, and this is no joke y’all, this is serious. We were put in a room together and the door was closed,” saidSpokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson.
“And we stayed there until we hammered out our differences,” said Wilkerson.
City and county leaders emphasized their shared priority of serving the community.
“We all serve the same community and I’m encouraged to see the collaborative support we’ve had that. you really required everyone’s efforts over the last month to make this possible,” said Fire Chief Cody Rohrbach with Spokane County Fire District 3.
Enhanced public safety remains the primary goal.
“I think that’s what the community expects from us. They expect high-quality public safety 911 services,” said Chief Rohrbach.
The change will also introduce a new crime check number for Spokane by October 2026. All three agencies are committed to working together and keeping the public informed.
“There is no more foundational public service that residents expect their government to get right than 911,” said Commissioner Jordan.
The resolution marks a peaceful end to the negotiations.
“With every negotiation when it’s done the question to be asked is ‘who won’, and I just want to say the public. I’m very proud to say the citizens won,”
