Spokane Councilman Questions Tax Plan for $18M Building Purchase

Spokane City Councilmember Michael Cathcart is raising concerns about a proposed tax intended to help fund a building purchase and other expenses, arguing that city officials have not adequately explained the plan to taxpayers. Cathcart says the city is considering spending approximately $18 million to purchase a building, with potentially several million dollars more needed for maintenance, upgrades and improvements. “We have not sold this to the voters. We have not sold it to the citizens,” Cathcart said, criticizing what he describes as limited public outreach. According to Cathcart, discussions have largely involved internal stakeholders and individuals connected to justice system services rather than the broader Spokane community. The councilmember argues that residents deserve a clearer explanation of why the building is necessary and why additional taxpayer funding should support the purchase and improvements. His comments raise questions about Spokane's proposed tax, government spending, public transparency and the cost of city facilities. Subscribe to The Center Square for more Spokane news, Washington government spending, local taxes, city council decisions and taxpayer accountability. #Spokane #MichaelCathcart #SpokaneCityCouncil #TaxpayerMoney #GovernmentSpending #WashingtonState #GovernmentAccountability