(The Center Square) – For the first time since taking office in January, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown stood before constituents to deliver her inaugural State of the City Address. Her message centered around the importance of approving a $40 million annual tax levy coming before voters in August.
Brown, a veteran politician who served as a state representative, senator and director of the Washington State Department of Commerce, took over as mayor following a contentious campaign against her predecessor, Nadine Woodward.
Brown faces a host of challenges, including balancing Spokane’s $50 million budget deficit. She gave residents her priorities on Tuesday.
The Budget Deficit & Community Safety
“Nothing is more important to our future than balancing our budget and not only sustaining but increasing our investments in community safety,” Brown said.
For three years, general funds expenditures exceeded revenue, and employee contracts were negotiated without identifying funds to cover cost-of-living increases; as a result, reserves
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