Spokane County's juvenile justice and jails tax heads to November ballot

(The Center Square) – Spokane County is asking voters to renew its Juvenile Detention Facility & Jails Sales Tax.

Taxpayers send the county $15 million annually under the current tax.

Voters can expect to see the measure on the ballot for the Nov. 5 general election, alongside the presidential nominees, other state initiatives and another sales tax proposed by the City of Spokane, assuming its city council decides to place it on the ballot.

For decades, the county has used the one-tenth of 1% sales tax to fund its juvenile facilities and two jails. Voters last renewed the measure in 2015, but now the county needs to surpass the 60% threshold to pass it again before it expires at the end of next year.

“The board recognizes the importance of our juvenile justice system, from supporting youth making positive changes, to providing accountability that protects community safety,” said Mary Kuney, chair of the Board of County Commissioners. “This proposal is a renewal of an existing tax, something that has been approved by the voters five times previously and passed most recently in 2015 with nearly 70% voter approval.”

Last year, the tax brought in approximately $15.8 million, but according to internal documents, from 2016 to 2023, it generated $101.7 million. Around $55.5 million of that revenue was used on the juvenile facility in Spokane and Martin Hall, another facility used by several counties.

The county sent out a press release stating that it uses the funds for 25 juvenile correction officers, four probation counselors and three medical and administration staff members.

However, $46.2 million was also used on the two adult facilities, which is consistent with state law; but, the county didn’t elaborate beyond noting that it funds Detention Services in general, which includes correctional officers, medical staff and other facility needs.

All four facilities are used by Spokane County, the City of Spokane, Spokane Valley and the other local municipalities; still, each facility faces unique challenges but shares a commonality in that it lacks much-needed capacity.

According to the press release, from 2022 to 2023, felony juvenile offense referrals went up 25%, with gross misdemeanors and misdemeanors referrals increasing by 44%; regardless, Martin Hall only has 44 juvenile cells, with the Spokane facility maintaining 39 more beds.

Still, the lack of capacity at the juvenile facilities only breaches the surface when also considering the rate at which violent adult felony offenders are being released without bail.

The county commissioners previously considered expanding the list of uses for the tax revenue to include the construction of new facilities, which is consistent with those listed in state law ; however, the elected officials were concerned that if the ballot language changed, voters would be hesitant to support it.

Last November, the county failed to pass a separate tax measure that would’ve funded the construction of a new jail, something the municipalities say they need, but with that use being eliminated from this year’s ballot language, everything will stay the same.

“Per [Tuesday’s] Board approved resolution, if the tax is renewed, funds would be used solely for costs associated with operating, maintaining, repairing, equipping, re-equipping, financing and remodeling of juvenile detention facilities and jails,” according to the press release.

The measure costs any consumer, whether visiting or residing within the county, $1 for every $1,000 spent and, if renewed, would extend through Dec. 31, 2035.