Trial By Electorate Voters Judge Merits Of Accounting In Deciding Whether City Needs Own Courts

Both sides in a mail-in election to decide whether Spokane should run its own city court are accusing the other of misleading voters.

Voters have until Feb. 2 to mail in ballots on Initiative 98-1, which would have the city operate an independent municipal court.

Since 1972, the city has paid an annual fee to Spokane County to handle municipal court cases within District Court.

Initiative backers insist a reliable accounting firm has estimated the savings to city taxpayers at a minimum of $218,000 a year.

That figure is wildly inaccurate, opponents say.

They say instead of saving money, taxpayers will have to spend about $5 million just to set up the new court.

“From the word go, the supporters (of the switch) made this sound like an altruistic way of saving people money,” said retired District Court Judge Dan Maggs, a spokesman for citizens opposing the measure.

After the start-up costs, Maggs said the new court would still cost the city at least $100,000 a year more to operate.

Maggs also criticized proponents for failing to state clearly that the ballot is the brainchild of angry leaders of the union representing city and county clerical workers.

The union has battled with District Court judges over contracts it is seeking for about 100 city and county court workers.

Union president Chris Dugovich, in turn, blasted anti-initiative yard signs suggesting the measure would raise taxes as “gross misrepresentations.”

City budget officials estimate start-up costs at roughly $5 million for courtrooms, equipment and staff costs. “That’s money the city would have to get from somewhere,” Maggs said.

Countered Dugovich: “Our proposal is based on the experience of other cities who’ve done this. And we feel it will save dollars that can be used to fix roads and jail more criminals.”

City officials have taken no stance on the ballot measure.

Spokane County Commissioners Kate McCaslin and John Roskelley oppose the measure, which would cost the county about $500,000 a year in city payments. Commissioner Phil Harris voted against the resolution. He said the decision rests with city taxpayers.

The union has sent two citywide mailers supporting the measure to residents. Dugovich said a third may be mailed in a couple of days.

Opponents have relied on yard signs and radio ads, said retired District Court Judge Richard Richard, co-chairman of the committee opposing the initiative.

As of Wednesday evening, about 30,000 ballots had been returned to the county elections office. The office mailed out more than 104,000 ballots to city residents.

This sidebar appeared with the story: PARK VOTE Also on the mail-in ballot is a city proposal to sell 30 acres of undeveloped parkland at Colton Street and Holland Avenue, near the Northpointe shopping center. Money from the sale would go toward building softball diamonds, soccer fields, a skateboard park, batting cages and paved parking near Joe Albi Stadium.