Taxpayers To Tell County How To Spend

Spokane County commissioners agreed Thursday to spend up to $7,000 asking taxpayers how they’d like their money spent.

“This is what I’ve been wanting us to do for a long time … establishing priorities on some basis other than witchcraft,” said Commissioner Steve Hasson.

Professionals will call 300 to 400 residents and ask them which county functions should be a priority.

County residents also will be asked to fill out surveys in several local newspapers. And, they’ll be invited to attend workshops where they’ll receive fake money and asked to divide it between law enforcement, road repairs and other programs in amounts they consider appropriate.

Similar programs are used in Portland; Battle Creek, Mich.; and Bellevue, Wash.

Commissioners say they are inundated with more requests for money than they can grant. Law enforcement and courts claim more than half the budget, leaving little for amenities like parks.

Commissioners want the surveys completed before they begin setting next year’s budget in October.

, DataTimes