The Downtown Spokane Partnership (DSP) today announced its endorsement of Proposition 1 “Community Safety Sales Tax” on the November ballot for City of Spokane voters.

“Spokane desperately needs resources— quickly—to improve safety for every Spokanite. Proposition 1 can provide immediate funding for the Spokane Police Department to significantly increase the number of police officers assigned to the Downtown Precinct and keep our community safe,” said Emilie Cameron, President & CEO of the Downtown Spokane Partnership. “The commitment of Mayor Brown and the City Council to prioritize adding new police personnel, enhancing operations, maintaining transparency and adding accountability are expectations that must be the foundation of any use of funds generated by this measure.”

The new 1/10 of one percent sales tax increase in the City of Spokane is expected to generate funds for new investments in the Spokane Police and Fire Departments, Municipal Court and Office of the Ombuds. The DSP’s support for Proposition 1 follows pledges to prioritize additional new police officers downtown and clarification from Spokane City Council to establish a dedicated Community Safety Fund to provide additional transparency and an automatic mechanism to sunset the tax on December 31, 2035, to add accountability.

Further, Mayor Brown’s commitment to continue to work toward a regional public safety and health funding approach that will build a comprehensive public safety sales tax that can replace Prop. 1 ensures investments in public safety can be maximized across Spokane County.

The DSP also recently endorsed Spokane County Measure 1 to renew the Juvenile Detention Facilities and Jails Sales Tax for another 10 years.

Information about Proposition 1 can be found on the City’s website here.