Consolidation Would Be Simpler, If Not Cheaper

Things would be a lot less complicated if one government served the urbanized area of Spokane County.

Some argue that consolidation would be more expensive than the current system, but there’s no doubt it would be simpler.

“Why do we require one thing on one side of Havana Street and something else on the other?” County Commissioner Phil Harris asked, pointing to the eastern boundary between the city and county.

As it is, Spokane city and county governments find themselves competing for business expansion, sales tax revenue and funding from state and federal governments.

Each has its own planning department, utility department, parks department and law enforcement agency.

They also have different tax structures.

People who live in the unincorporated areas of the county pay $3.52 per $1,000 of assessed property value in county taxes. That’s broken down to include $1.61 to fund “current county expense,” such as the court system, jail and other daily operating costs.

The other $1.91 goes into the county road fund.

County residents also pay special purpose district taxes to fund their fire departments, libraries and schools.

Total local property taxes in the unincorporated area run from $11 per $1,000 in assessed value to $18 per $1,000, said John Sweetman, the county’s deputy assessor.

Residents of the city of Spokane also pay the $1.61 for current county expense, but they aren’t charged for the county road tax.

Money for city streets, libraries, fire departments and other urban services is raised from the city’s $4.79 per $1,000 property tax.

Add in other services such as schools, the average city property owner pays about $14.80 per $1,000 of assessed value in local property taxes, Sweetman said.