Spokane approves 0.1% tax for campus, crisis response

The Spokane City Council voted 6-1 to impose a 0.1% sales tax beginning Jan. 1, 2027, to support a new Community Safety Campus and expanded mental-health response efforts. The tax is expected to raise more than $7 million annually and help fund the city’s purchase of the Rock Pointe East building, bringing court and other public-safety services now spread across leased locations under one roof. Supporters say consolidation could improve coordination and save the city money, while some council members also stressed the need for transparency about how the revenue is spent. Council Member Michael Cathcart opposed the measure, arguing voters should have had a say; supporters said state law allows the council to approve it without a public vote.