Measure 1 | Spokane County, WA

WHAT IS THE NEW SALES TAX AND HOW CAN IT BE USED?

A new 0.2% (2/10 of 1%) sales tax on purchases beginning April 1, 2024 through December 31, 2054. For every $10 spent by residents, visitors, and tourists in Spokane County, an additional .02¢ will be collected. The retail sale or use of motor vehicles, and the lease of motor vehicles for up to the first thirty-six months of the lease, are exempt from this tax.
60% of the collected funds will be allocated to Spokane County government and 40% provided to cities and towns within Spokane County.
One-third of the revenue collected from this sales tax must be used for criminal justice purposes. The remaining two-thirds of revenues collected may be spent on criminal justice, public safety, or behavioral health purposes.

WHAT IS SPOKANE COUNTY PROPOSING TO DO WITH ITS SHARE OF THE REVENUE?

Expansion and improvement of the downtown Spokane County Jail facility:
- This proposal includes more beds to reduce overcrowding, improved booking and reform systems, custody and operations improvements (including inmate training classes and Therapeutic Case Management), along with expanded services for more successful inmate preparation for release.
- From 1986 to 2053, Spokane County population is projected to nearly double in size.* Spokane County’s proposal includes proposed facilities to keep up with population growth.
- Additionally, the new facilities would provide necessary housing for low, medium and high level classification.
Closing Geiger Corrections Center and moving inmates and services to an expanded and improved downtown facility.

Geiger Corrections Center was built as a military barracks in 1953. It was never intended for detention purposes and lacks security features.
Geiger Corrections Center is deteriorating, and estimates for basic repairs alone come to $40+ million.
The Geiger Corrections Center sits on land which is being leased to the County. At the termination of the lease the buildings are required to be removed.

* GMA Medium Forecast Projection

WHAT IS THE NEW SALES TAX AND HOW CAN IT BE USED?

Spokane County plans to construct a new Housing Facility to house up to 896 minimum to medium security inmates. This new Housing Facility is designed to absorb inmates from the closing of the Geiger Corrections Center and to account for future capacity needs. The design of the new Housing Facility features a center control room, 256 inmates per floor, and supervision levels of 1 corrections officer to 64 inmates.

Spokane County also plans to build a new Community Corrections facility, designed to house up to 128 minimum security inmates. The new Community Corrections facility is designed to include space for community partner agencies to provide services, including job skills, alcohol and drug treatment, mental health counseling, family services, etc. Court-ordered treatment and day use services are also planned for the new Community Corrections facility.

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