SPOKANE, Wash. — Those voting in Spokane County’s November General Elections ballot, it is important to know the top issues that will be presented on the 2023 ballot.
Election day is Nov. 7, 2023 and voters have until 8 p.m. for in-person registration and voter updates.
All ballot drop boxes availability ends at 8 p.m. on election day and no postage is required. Those planning to mail in ballots must be postmarked by election day, according to Spokane County’s official site.
Here are some of the main issues covered on the upcoming ballot:
Grant Spokane County to add two-tenths of one percent sales and use tax for criminal justice, public safety, correctional infrastructure and behavioral health purposes.The City of Spokane will add a 0.2% addition to the county-wide sales and use tax from April 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2054, Spokane County for criminal justice, public safety, and behavioral health purposes, including building and improving jails or correctional facilities. Staffing shortages, aging and overpopulated jails are the conditions that staff and officers find themselves in. The biggest issue the jail staff finds is the need for more space.
City of Spokane Initiative prohibiting encampments near schools, parks, playgrounds, and childcare facilitiesSpokane Municipal Code granted to prohibit no encampments within 1,000 feet of any public or private school, parks, playground, or licensed childcare facility.
Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 13 Property Tax Levy for Fire Protection and Emergency Medical ServicesBy approving this proposal, the district is allowed to maintain service levels by restoring its regular property tax levy to $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed value.
