Spokane schools, parks have released their 440 million plan. Now they need to convince voters.

Together Spokane is a proposed $440 million initiative aimed at improving parks and schools across Spokane, developed collaboratively by Spokane Public Schools and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. With the clock ticking, the agencies have just nine months to persuade voters who are wary of new taxes after a failed school bond attempt last year. A recent poll highlights that 63% of city voters feel their taxes are excessively high, while 78% believe local government does not spend tax dollars wisely. However, there are instances of successful tax measures in the area, such as a recent public safety sales tax approved by over 57% of voters. Schools Superintendent Adam Swinyard stresses the importance of community engagement to align the initiative with taxpayer expectations.

The initiative has received support from a diverse group of political leaders, but skepticism remains, particularly concerning the merging of the school and parks funding requests. Councilman Jonathan Bingle warns that community frustration over past decisions could undermine support for the parks levy. Ultimately, the success of the Together Spokane initiative hinges on effective communication and demonstrable fiscal responsibility.