Latest from The Spokesman-Review

• Budget boasts don’t reflect spending

  October 15, 2011 in Washington Voices on Page V4 Claim: Several candidates for Spokane Valley City Council have stated repeatedly that the council that’s been dominated by the Positive Change slate of candidates has reduced budget growth of 7 … 1

• Liberty Lake makes progress on budget

  December 16, 2010 in Washington Voices on Page V1 In a special meeting Tuesday, the Liberty Lake City Council decided on what to do with $140,139 in funds it didn’t have when the proposed budget was written. The funds …

• Deal with firefighters would preserve jobs

  November 19, 2010 in City on Page A1 Spokane firefighters avoid layoffs under a tentative agreement accepted this week by Mayor Mary Verner. If the deal is approved by union members and City Council, Local 29 of the … 21

• Tense exchanges reveal city’s budget stress

    November 10, 2010 in City on Page A5 Call it the e-mail thread heard round the city. As Spokane wrestled with its sad but necessary budget-cutting in recent weeks, a series of e-mail messages – forwarded to all … 56

• Residents rally for library branch

  October 28, 2010 in City on Page A5 Several library users fought tears Wednesday as they implored Spokane library trustees to keep the city’s East Side branch open. “This place provides access,” said Spokane resident Scott Engelhard, his … 6

• Library board considering East Side branch’s closure

  October 25, 2010 in City on Page A1 Several times a week Lewis and Clark High School freshman Janelle McNeal heads to the East Side Library to finish homework, connect with friends online and read books. But that … 13

• Spokane Valley council passes 2011 budget

  October 14, 2010 in Washington Voices on Page V1 The Spokane Valley City Council unanimously passed its budget for 2011 Tuesday night, despite objections by Councilman Bill Gothmann to the cut in a cost of living adjustment raise to … 1

• Vestal: Alleged givebacks are a cop-out

  September 24, 2010 in City on Page A7 Give it back. This is the terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad mantra of this recession. Give back your job. Give back some salary. Give back your raise. Give back a … 21

• Guild, city of Spokane spar over layoffs

  September 24, 2010 in City on Page A7 Spokane Police Guild leaders this week sent a strong message to Mayor Mary Verner: We dare you. In a letter received by Verner on Thursday, Guild President Ernie Wuthrich warned … 8

• City layoff list puts 120 workers at risk

  September 22, 2010 in City on Page A1 Spokane administrators next week will inform about 120 workers that they will lose their jobs by the end of the year. Some could be demoted but remain on the city … 28

• Liberty Lake department heads trying to cut costs

  August 19, 2010 in Washington Voices on Page V6 The Liberty Lake City Council heard an accounting from the city’s department heads of what they were doing to reduce costs. Community Development Director Doug Smith told the council the …

• City Council continues support for region’s youth

  January 14, 2010 in Washington Voices on Page S1 Supporters and staff at the Chase Youth Commission and the Youth Department drew a huge sigh of relief just before Christmas, when the Spokane City Council approved Mayor Mary Verner’s … 1

• Spokane’s leaner than the mean

  November 15, 2009 in City on Page B9 The 2010 budget for Spokane shows that city government is comparatively lean. Some examples: Revenue per person in Seattle and Tacoma is $1,540. In Spokane, it’s $863. 8

• Cities need Legislature’s help fixing budget flaws

  November 15, 2009 in Opinion on Page B8 When reviewing the city of Spokane’s budgeting principles, they seem obvious: match spending to current expenditures, keep prudent reserves, finance highest priorities first, don’t pay for ongoing expenses with one-time …

• City, firefighters reach deal to avoid cuts

  September 1, 2009 in City on Page A7 Spokane firefighters likely will be spared layoffs thanks to a deal reached last week between union leaders and city administrators. The sides agreed to create a new early retirement program …