West Central tax spending up to residents

West Central neighbors will have a say in special projects paid for with tax dollars generated through new development.

On Monday, the Spokane City Council approved creation of a citizens board to recommend how to spend taxes raised in the West Central tax district created by the council in May.

The district was formed mainly to pay for roads, sewers and other infrastructure in the Kendall Yards development along the Spokane River west of Monroe Street, by siphoning new taxes generated as property values grow to pay for improvements.

Borders of the district were expanded to include older neighborhoods in hopes of stimulating revitalization.

Terms of the tax district stipulate that new tax money generated on Kendall Yards land be used at Kendall Yards while additional taxes generated in the existing neighborhood be used outside the new development.

George Craig, chairman of the West Central Neighborhood Council, said community leaders have been waiting for the board’s creation since it was written into the tax district measure in May.

“I believe it needs to be a grass-roots decision process,” Craig said at Monday’s hearing.

The city has estimated that about $2 million could be raised for use outside of Kendall Yards. Suggested uses for the money include projects aimed at revitalizing a business center along Broadway Avenue between Ash and Chestnut, replacement of the Post Street Bridge with a pedestrian crossing and creation of a public market.

The citizens board, called the West Quadrant Tax Increment Financing District Neighborhood Advisory Committee, was proposed by city Councilwoman Mary Verner. The agreement approved in May required city officials to create an advisory board concept for the council’s consideration.

Last week, however, Councilman Brad Stark surprised some members of the council by voting against creation of the committee, arguing that citizens would have plenty of opportunities to voice their desires without adding another level of bureaucracy. He joined Councilman Bob Apple, who has questioned the legality of the district, in opposing the new board.

Although the vote for the new committee was 3-2, it needed four votes to win approval.

On Monday, the concept came up for another vote. Apple reversed his position, two members who were absent last week voted in favor and Stark was absent – resulting in a unanimous decision in favor of the citizens committee.

The five-member board will have representatives from the West Central, Emerson-Garfield and Riverside neighborhoods as well as two at-large members who have a background in economic development or a related field.