Spokane County hosting three public budget meetings

Spokane County commissioners plan to hold three public meetings to inform residents and gather feedback as they craft the county’s 2020 operating budget.

The first meeting, on Oct. 1, will focus on the county’s general fund, property valuation and taxation. The second meeting, on Oct. 8, will focus on law and justice. The third meeting, on Oct. 22, will focus on roads and environmental services.

Each meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the commissioners’ hearing room in the Public Works Building, 1026 W. Broadway Ave. The meetings will be recorded and posted on the county’s website and YouTube channel.

The commissioners – Republicans Al French, Mary Kuney and Josh Kerns – plan to host the meetings in accordance with a 2017 resolution that calls for more transparency in the budgeting process. At the time, the commissioners were cutting spending to avert a $9.4 million budget shortfall.