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Ordinance 25-004 Public Safety Sales Tax Ballot MeasureCITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY SPOKANE COUNTY, WASHINGTON ORDINANCE NO.25-004 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY, WASHINGTON, PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY AT THE AUGUST 5, 2025 ELECTION OF A PROPOSITION AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE TO THE SALES AND USE TAX IN SPOKANE VALLEY OF ONE -TENTH OF ONE PERCENT (0.1 %) ON THE SELLING PRICE OR VALUE OF AN ARTICLE TO FUND PUBLIC SAFETY AS PERMITTED IN RCW 82.14.450; SETTING FORTH THE TEXT OF THE BALLOT PROPOSITION; DIRECTING PROPER CITY OFFICIALS TO TAKE NECESSARY ACTIONS; AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO. WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Spokane Valley, Washington (the "City"), has adopted six budget priorities for 2025, including (1) increase public safety response and service levels; (2) prioritize infrastructure maintenance and preservation and advance strategic capital projects through grant awards; (3) continue economic development efforts to maximize business growth and develop tourism destinations; (4) maintain a strong financial position; (5) use strategic partnerships to reduce and prevent homelessness in Spokane Valley; and (6) expand homeownership opportunities within the region; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reaffirmed public safety and service levels as its top priority; and WHEREAS, the City has maintained conservative fiscal policies to minimize taxes on City residents. As part of these policies, the City Council funds recurring annual expenses with recurring revenue in order to avoid budget shortfalls, which would result in cutting service levels or programs. The City also contracts for services when prudent to minimize personnel costs and overhead. As a result, the City's General Fund revenue is just 6 1 % of the annual and per -capital revenue of like -sized cities in the State of Washington (the "State"); and WHEREAS, one key area where contracted services has been both fiscally and operationally effective is through contracted law enforcement services with the Spokane County Sheriff's Office (the "Sheriff's Office"). The City began contracting for law enforcement services through the Sheriff's Office in 2003 when the City was incorporated. Contracting for law enforcement services with the Sherriff's Office has provided exceptional police service at lower costs as compared to in-house police services by like -sized cities in the State. However, costs for police account for 54% of the City's 2025 General Fund budget, and all public safety costs (including police, prosecution, public defense, court, jail, and animal control services) account for 64% of the City's 2025 General Fund budget; and WHEREAS, the City has historically managed services by finding efficiencies and stretching existing resources to provide the maximum level of service possible. For instance, while staffing models have changed over time to meet demands, until recently, the City has only added 5 dedicated police officers between 2007 and 2023; and WHEREAS, the City's population has grown from 87,894 to 108,800 between 2007 and 2024, an approximately 22% increase, and the City saw an increase in calls for service of 17% between 2017 and 2023. Police staffing levels have not kept pace with this growth; and WHEREAS, as part of its ongoing management of police services and in response to the growth in calls for service, in 2023 the City engaged Matrix Consulting Group Ltd. to conduct an extensive review of the City's police needs, operations, and staffing levels (the "Study"); and WHEREAS, as of 2022, the City had 91 dedicated police officers and 37 shared police positions under its contract with the Sherriff's Office. The Study reviewed the actual need to meet the calls for service and recommended that the City hire an additional combined 31 commissioned and non-commissioned positions to meet public safety needs; and WHEREAS, in 2024, the City Council authorized 12 additional police related positions, at a total estimated cost of $2,325,032. In order to avoid increasing taxes, these new positions were funded from existing resources in 2024 and have been incorporated into the 2025 budget through the combination of reprioritizing funding and making cuts to non -police City programs; and WHEREAS, in addition to the identified and desired additional police related positions, the City has experienced rapid growth in costs for law enforcement services in the last several years. Since 2021, costs for law enforcement services have grown an average of 10.9% (including the additional police related positions). These costs are a result of legislative changes impacting police services and liability and challenges that exist in the State and within the region regarding recruiting, hiring, and retaining officers; and WHEREAS, as a result of adding the additional 12 police related positions and accounting for the annual anticipated cost increases, the City's total 2025 public safety budget increased 14%; and WHEREAS, to avoid increasing taxes to pay for the additional 12 police related positions and anticipated cost increases, the City Council cut non -police services and City programs by approximately 5%; and WHEREAS, nearly all of the 2025 budget cuts will not be available in the 2026 budget or future years because they resulted in removal of complete programs, such as funding to outside agencies and general fund subsidies of street maintenance operations; and WHEREAS, the City Council has identified a desire to hire additional police officers, but has determined that there are not sufficient existing recurring revenues to do so; and WHEREAS, the City also estimates that costs for all law enforcement services will continue to increase annually. Currently, the City understands that costs will increase at least approximately $4.7 million over the next three years due to recently approved collective bargaining agreements; and WHEREAS, the City has maintained a history of fiscal conservatism. The City's two primary revenue sources are property taxes and sales taxes. Together, they account for more than 80% of the City's General Fund revenue. The City Council has not taken statutorily authorized 2 annual 1 % increases in property taxes since 2009 and the only growth in property taxes has occurred from new development; and WHEREAS, the City only receives 8% of the total property taxes paid by property taxpayers within the City. The remaining 92% is distributed among the State, Spokane County, and voter approved levies to fire districts, school districts, and other governmental entities. For instance, on a median home with a value of $439,000, the City receives $346 out of the total $4,114 of property tax paid by the homeowner; and WHEREAS, as a result, City property tax revenue growth has not kept pace with inflation since 2009 nor has it kept pace with cost increases in law enforcement; and WHEREAS, the City currently levies a sales and use tax of 0.85% for general revenue purposes. The aggregate sales and use tax levy within the City is currently 8.9%, also distributed among the State, Spokane County, and other overlapping jurisdictions; and WHEREAS, sales tax revenues are highly dependent on the economy and on consumer spending; and WHEREAS, while sales tax revenues can be volatile, within the City sales tax revenues have been flat or slightly declining over the last two years, and have also not kept pace with the increase in cost of public safety; and WHEREAS, according to a study conducted by Retail Strategies in 2023, approximately 48% of all sales taxes collected in the City are paid by non -City resident consumers; and WHEREAS, RCW 82.14.450 allows the City to levy an 1/10 of 1% (0.1%) sales tax for public safety purposes, subject to voter approval; and WHEREAS, given the need for additional police officers as identified in the Study, the anticipated increases in law enforcement costs, and limited resources, the City Council believes that it is necessary to let voters decide whether to raise sales taxes by 1/10 of 1% (0.1%) to pay for additional law enforcement officers and increasing law enforcement costs; and WHEREAS, if approved by the voters, the 1/10 of 1% (0.1%) sales tax is expected to raise approximately $2.6 million annually; and WHEREAS, pursuant to chapter 1, Section (C)(22) of the City of Spokane Valley Governance Manual (the "Governance Manual"), prior to increasing or imposing a new tax, the City Council must hold a public hearing after providing proper notice; and WHEREAS, the City Council held a properly noticed public hearing on the proposed sales tax for public safety on April 1, 2025, at which time public testimony was heard; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the Governance Manual, adoption of this ordinance requires an affirmative vote of a majority plus one of the whole City Council; NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Spokane Valley, Spokane County, Washington, do ordain as follows: Section 1. Public Safety Sales and Use Tax. The City Council hereby finds that the best interests of the residents of the City and the general public require the City to pay costs associated with providing and/or contracting for public safety services, including but not limited to costs associated with: providing public safety services to meet increased demand and calls for service; adding new police officers; paying public safety operations, maintenance and capital; providing for law enforcement staffing and retention; and providing other City operations and services authorized by RCW 82.14.450 (the "Public Safety Services"). The City Council reserves the right, in accordance with its budget process, to determine the levels of service to be provided as permitted under applicable State law and within the available revenues collected from this increase. If revenues are sufficient, the Council reserves the right to use such additional funds to contract for, or pay personnel and related costs for recruiting, hiring, training, equipping and employing additional personnel in other capacities authorized by RCW 82.14.450. The cost of all compensation, benefits, training, support services, equipment, vehicles, infrastructure, facilities, real property, and/or administrative expenses and other costs incurred and/or contracted for in connection with Public Safety Services shall be deemed a part of the costs. The City Council may alter, make substitutions to, and amend such components as it determines are in the best interests of the City and consistent with the general descriptions provided herein. The tax shall be in addition to any other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected from those persons who are taxable by the State under chapter 82.14 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable event within the City. Section 2. Calling of Election. It is hereby found that the best interests of the citizens of the City require the submission to the qualified electors of the City for approval or rejection at the election to be held on August 5, 2025 of a proposition authorizing an additional sales and use tax of 1/IOth of 1% (0.1%) on the selling price in the case of a sales tax or the value of the at used in the case of a use tax pursuant RCW 82.14.450. Spokane County Elections, as ex-officio supervisor of elections in the City, is hereby requested to submit to the qualified electors of the City the proposition set forth below. Upon approval of the voters of the proposition hereinafter set forth, the City may use proceeds of such sales and use tax to pay the costs of Public Safety Services as more particularly described in this ordinance. 4 The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to certify a proposition to Spokane County Elections, as ex-officio supervisor of elections in Spokane County, Washington, in substantially the following form: CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY PROPOSITION NO. PUBLIC SAFETY SALES AND USE TAX The City Council of the City of Spokane Valley passed Ordinance No. 25-004 concerning funding for public safety services. If approved, this proposition would increase the sales and use tax rate by 1/10th of 1% (0.1%) to provide funding for public safety services to meet increased demand and calls for service; adding new police officers; paying public safety operations, maintenance and capital; providing for law enforcement staffing and retention; and providing other public safety operations and services permitted under RCW 82.14.450. Should this proposition be approved? YES NO For purposes of receiving notice of the exact language of the ballot proposition required by RCW 29A.36.080, the City Council hereby designates: (a) the City Clerk and (b) Bond Counsel to the City, as the individuals to whom such notice should be provided. Bond Counsel and City Clerk are each authorized individually to approve changes to the ballot title, if any, deemed necessary by the Spokane County Auditor. The City Clerk is authorized to make necessary clerical corrections to this ordinance including, but not limited to, the correction of scrivener's or clerical errors, references, numbering, section/subsection numbers, and any reference thereto. The proper City officials are authorized to perform such duties as are necessary or required by law to submit the question of whether the 0.1 % sales tax shall be levied, as provided in this ordinance, to the electors at the August 5, 2025 election. Section 3. Local Voters' Pamphlet Authorized. The preparation and distribution of a local voters' pamphlet providing information on the foregoing ballot measure is hereby authorized. The pamphlet shall include an explanatory statement and arguments advocating approval and disapproval of the ballot measure, if any. In accordance with RCW 29A.32.280, the arguments advocating approval and rejection of the ballot measure shall be prepared by committees appointed by the City Council. Each committee shall be composed of not more than three persons; however, a committee may seek the advice of any person or persons. Section 4. Ratification. Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the effective date of this ordinance is hereby ratified and confirmed. Section 5. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five days after the date of publication of this ordinance or a summary thereof in the official newspaper of the City. Passed by a majority plus one vote of the City Council of Spokane Valley this 15"' day of April 2025. ATTEST: - /L(A . � Marci Patterson, City Clerk Approved as to Form: Paci ica Law Group LLK.]3onQyounsel Date of Publication: 25I Zo It, Effective Date: Z 5 Pam Haley, Mayor 9