Much of the attention centered on Tuesday’s election focused on candidates. But there were a variety of initiatives and tax measures for Inland Northwest voters to decide as well, including one in Airway Heights.
Nine years ago, voters there approved a two-tenths-of-a-cent local sales tax with the money diverted to transportation improvements. This week, city officials asked them to extend that tax and even add a tenth-of-a-penny.
During the campaign City Manager Albert Tripp pointed to tangible civic projects that were paid for in part with that money, things that made getting around in the rapidly-growing city easier.
Tripp says the city collected about $635,000 last year. He says it uses that money to leverage other sources of funding for projects, such as building sidewalks in residential areas. Tripp says the funding also helped to pay for a pedestrian safety crossing on busy Hayford Road, which fronts the Northern Quest Casino and Hotel.
“Hayford Road’s a pretty wide section of roadway to make it across and it has a large amount of daily trips on that particular roadway and so we added a flashing beacon signage that allows for pedestrians to cross a bit more safer," he said.
One of the next projects on the drawing board is a street that allows travelers to move between Airway Heights and Spokane and bypass Highway 2.
“Clearly, as the community is identifying, roads are one of their top priorities. They’ve also identified traffic congestion and pedestrian safety as also significant issues as well," he said.
Tripp also reminded voters that people who come to town to shop are also paying the tax.
Apparently, the arguments he made were persuasive. The latest ballot count shows the measure has the support of 56% of voters.
The current tax will expire at the end of 2023. The new version will begin after that.
