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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Voters Around The County Discuss Consolidation The Suburbs Have Most On The Line In Consolidation

Adam Lynn And Dan Hansen S Staff writer

People living in the suburbs have the most to gain, and lose, in a consolidated city-county government.

Opponents and proponents generally agree that the nearly 150,000 living in the urbanized, unincorporated sprawl around the city of Spokane can expect more and better services if the measure passes Nov. 7.

“No question about that,” said Cecil Cleveland, a Valley businessman who is adamantly opposed to consolidation and advertises his disdain on a reader board outside his lumber and hardware business near Sprague and Pines.

Parks in the Valley would almost surely receive much-needed playground equipment, bathrooms and irrigation systems.

Spokane County currently spends 1.5 percent of its annual budget - about $1 million - on its parks.

The city of Spokane spends 8 percent, or $7 million, on its parks.

The charter earmarks 8 percent of the city-county budget for parks. That would be about $13 million. Enough, supporters say, to maintain city parks while improving those in the Valley.

Roads in Mead also would be better maintained, and law enforcement patrols in all outlying communities probably would increase.

But, like most things, there’s a down side.

Most supporters and detractors also agree that the taxes suburban residents pay are sure to increase to cover the costs of the improvements.

There is considerable disagreement on how much, but a figure of $20 million a year is being bandied about by opponents.

It’s probable that residents in the urbanized, unincorporated area will begin paying a utilities tax, which Spokane city residents pay now.

Some proponents argue that the price of running the current form of government will go up anyway, and that consolidation should be given a chance.

Residents from Farwell Road on the North Side to 32nd Avenue in the Valley are debating whether that’s a chance they’re willing to take.

Valley resident Scott Lanes said the price is too high.

He and some Valley neighbors formed a group called the Community Action Committee to fight consolidation.

Lanes worries that taxes raised in the Valley would be used to pay for downtown projects if the charter goes through.

That’s possible.

In fact, Valley taxes already subsidize rural residents, although the amount of that subsidy is disputed.

At the same time, Spokane city residents help fund services in the Valley and other areas of the county through taxes they pay toward county parks and the sheriff’s department.

Some members of the Valley Chamber of Commerce feel the cost issue would be a wash, said Ray Murphy, executive director.

Others feel it is the fatal flaw of the consolidation proposal, Murphy said.

The group’s local government committee voted 14-9 recently to recommend to the board of directors that it oppose the charter.

The board is expected to issue its recommendation before the end of the month, Murphy said.

Taxes aren’t the only issue at stake.

If voters decide to consolidate, it may mean the end of future incorporation efforts in the Valley, Mead and Morgan Acres.

The charter prevents new cities from forming.

That’s welcome news to thousands of residents who three times have voted down attempts to form cities in the Valley.

A poll conducted by The Spokesman-Review earlier this year showed that nearly 40 percent of people who said they opposed incorporation supported consolidation.

“We should be combining instead of separating,” said Jennie Riggen, who told pollsters she was against the Valley forming its own city.

It’s unclear, however, what consolidation would mean for efforts currently under way to form several small cities in the Valley.

Five separate groups are campaigning to create separate cities in the Valley today.

“We don’t know what it will do,” said Ed Meadows, a retired airline worker who is leading one of those efforts.

Meadows said his group will push ahead with its proposal regardless of the consolidation vote.

If the measure passes, Meadows said his group will sue to be allowed to hold an election on their city.

“The courts are going to be inundated with lawsuits if consolidation passes anyway,” Meadows said. “Ours will be just one more.”

Also on the table is the question of representation.

The freeholders who wrote the charter claim that the suburbs would have more clout in a consolidated government than they do in the current three-member county commission.

The way commissioner districts are aligned, it’s possible that all county commissioners could come from within the city limits of Spokane.

The 13 members of the city-county council would be elected to represent districts with about 30,000 residents each.

Two districts would be entirely in the Valley and a third mostly in the Valley.

A fourth district would include most of the North Side suburbs.

The most powerful position in the consolidated government, the county executive, could come from anywhere in the county.

Some dispute that representation would be better.

As it stands now, the Valley and the North Side suburbs potentially could control two-thirds of the board of county commissioners, Meadows said.

With consolidation, the best they can do is four-thirteenths, he said.

“We’ll just be left out in the dark,” Meadows said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK Have a question about the proposed merger of Spokane’s city and county governments? We’d like to answer it before the Nov. 7 election. Call Cityline, 458-8800, on a Touch-Tone phone, press 9865 and ask the question. Cityline is free, but normal long-distance tolls to Spokane apply.

This sidebar appeared with the story: YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK Have a question about the proposed merger of Spokane’s city and county governments? We’d like to answer it before the Nov. 7 election. Call Cityline, 458-8800, on a Touch-Tone phone, press 9865 and ask the question. Cityline is free, but normal long-distance tolls to Spokane apply.