Consolidation Still Offers Advantages

Thu., July 6, 2000

By Jackie Van Allen jackiev@spokesman.com

A proposed measure for the November ballot will ask voters whether they want to expand the Spokane County board of commissioners from three to five members. This could be a good interim step, although a longer-term solution is needed.

A five-member board would give residents better representation and ease each commissioner’s work load. When the three-member board was adopted, only 60,000 people lived in Spokane County.

The population today is closer to 415,000. Two additional commissioners could enable a closer relationship with constituents.

But more representation would be costly. In 1991, the estimated cost of adding two new commissioners with secretaries and offices was $260,000 for the first year. The cost of simply putting the measure on the ballot is nearly $150,000. In 1991, voters rejected a plan to add two commissioners. Today the climate is different. Spokane County government is doing well now. Residents seem happy with county services and the current commissioners. The county’s budget reserve is a testament to an efficiently run government. In November, Liberty Lake will vote on whether to incorporate as a separate city. Although ballot measures for incorporation of the Valley have failed in the past, that idea likely will show up again. A five-member commission would not be needed if the Valley were to incorporate.

Another option is consolidation. In 1992, freeholders were elected to design a better form of local government. They ultimately proposed consolidation of city and county government. In 1995, the freeholders’ proposal was rejected by county voters but favored by city voters.

Consolidation, also known as the city-county charter form of government, is still a viable option. Consider: Combined services such as sewer and water could save money. The police and sheriff’s department could share resources.

Planning for Spokane’s future growth could be more consistent. Currently, both the city and the county are in the process of complying with the Growth Management Act by drafting a comprehensive land use plan.

If the city and county were one, struggles over issues such as urban growth boundaries would be simplified and growth in both areas would be mandated by the same land use plan.

Additional commissioners would give county constituents more representation. But the long-term goal should be a plan for moreefficient government, serving both the city and the county.

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