The mayor of Spokane has released her proposal for the fiscal 2022 budget. It’s about 11% higher than this year’s budget.
Mayor Nadine Woodward’s budget proposal comes in a little shy of $1.1 billion dollars. Projects focused on homelessness, public safety and emergency preparedness will see a funding boost. Woodward wants the city to open a new shelter to prepare for an expected increase in homelessness. The mayor is planning a mix of federal American Rescue Plan dollars and local sales tax funding to set up and operate the shelter.
Woodward is also asking for several new high-level staffers in the executive branch, including a deputy city manager and a diversity and equity officer.
Extreme weather events also get a look in the proposed 2022 budget -- including more than a million dollars in new funds for fire preparedness and more than $100,000 for heat waves.
The City Council will hold four budget workshops with the mayor in October, with the goal of a final version in November and adopting the budget by year’s end.
