Childhood learning tax qualifies for ballot

A property tax to raise money for early childhood learning, abuse prevention, treatment and other programs to help lower the dropout rate will likely be on the ballot in November. Children’s Investment Fund advocates announced Monday they’d collected 8,412 signatures from registered Spokane County voters, more than the 8,334 required. The next step is for the Spokane City Council to give its approval. Volunteers organized through Spokane Alliance spent hours gathering signatures. More than 13,000 were turned in to the Spokane County Elections Office. That “shows just how important this initiative is in the eyes of Spokane residents,” said Ben Stuckart, a spokesman for the fund’s steering committee.