Listen to Shogan’s sharp words for his City Council colleagues
Council President Joe Shogan took the lead this year on the plan to create a vehicle tab tax while others on Spokane City Council examined other ideas -- including a parking lot tax. Shogan's plan is pretty much the only tax left that might be used to help balance the 2011 budget. But it's facing growing opposition on the council.
Three council members were especially angered by the surprise vote to move $1.5 million of street money to the city's rainy-day fund where it could be used to help fund the fire and police budgets. That proposal wasn't publicly vetted until Monday, just before the money was shifted in a 4-3 vote. In the audio clip, Rush is explaining that that vote makes it highly unlikely that he would support a tab tax for the 2011 budget. That, along with arguments from Corker in favor of moving a tab tax vote to January, prompted Shogan's harsh response.