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

Effort to overturn 44 percent pay increase for Spokane City Council members fails

From staff reports

A signature gathering effort to force a referendum on Spokane City Council pay raises has failed.

Kelly Lotze, who helped lead the 20-day effort, said his group collected 3,900 signatures. About 5,100 were needed to send the issue to voters for approval.

Council members were given a 44 percent pay increase last month by the city’s Salary Review Commission, which sets the pay for all elected officials at the city. Opponents had 30 days to collect signatures and force the issue to the ballot.

Since the opposition did not meet its goal, the pay increase will go into effect Jan. 1, 2017.