Bill Proposes Initiatives For County

Spokane County voters may get more to vote on if a bill being considered by the state Legislature is approved.

The bill, HB2367, would give county residents the right to place initiatives and referendums on the ballot.

“I think it is important that the people have the right of initiative and referendum,” said Rep. Larry Crouse, a Republican who introduced the bill this week.

City residents already can place such measures on the ballot.

Initiatives allow voters to put their own proposals on the ballot, while referendums let voters repeal ordinances already approved.

An initiative and referendum process was included in the proposed Spokane city-county consolidation that was voted down last November.

County Commissioner Steve Hasson lifted that portion of the consolidation plan and passed it on to Crouse for consideration in Olympia.

“It was one aspect of the consolidation that everyone agreed on,” said Hasson.

Most large counties in the state are governed by charters that allow initiatives and referendums.

Spokane County does not have a charter so it must ask the state for permission to put the process in place, Hasson said.Spokane is the state’s only county that fits that definition and doesn’t allow an initiative and referendum.

Rep. Duane Sommers, R-Spokane, said the bill reflects what his constituents want. “It’s a good bill and I’m happy to sign on.”

Mike Schrader, chairman of the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce’s local government committee, said the chamber is considering backing the bill.

“I so far haven’t run into any opposition,” said Schrader. “This is one issue that both sides of consolidation believe in.”

, DataTimes