Cheney Proposition 1
Election Results
| Option | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 592 | 58.73% |
| No | 416 | 41.27% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
About the Measure
Proposal: Extra funding would be used to pay for public safety, including a new police officer and a new fire truck. City officials say dwindling state revenue have chipped away at the city’s budget over the past few years. That’s led to cuts in public safety. City officials say that police officers are working alone on some shifts, which puts them in danger and makes it more difficult for them to respond to complicated calls. They also say that a 19 year old fire truck needs to be replaced, along with firefighter protective equipment. If the proposition doesn’t pass, city official say further cuts to police and fire are likely. Currently, 14 officers work for the police department, including the chief. “We provide, in my opinion, one of the highest levels of service in police and fire out of this region. To continue to be able to do that, we need appropriate funding for our police and fire departments,” said city administrator Mark Schuller.
Tax impact on property owners: If passed, the proposition would raise the city’s maximum property tax levy from $2.40 to $3.10 per $1,000 of property value. That’s an increase of 70 cents per $1,000 property value, which would increase the tax by $104 per year for the owner of a $150,000 property.
Total Collected Per Year: Approximately $410,000
Number Of Years: Permanent increase.
Vote requirement: Needs 50 percent support to pass
Complete Coverage
Two sexual assaults of EWU students reported
Classes at Eastern Washington University began just this week, but two sexual assaults of students have already been reported. Police have arrested a suspect in each case.
Jefferson, Betz elementary schools receive phone threats
Telephone threats put two area elementary schools on lockdown as police swept buildings and parking lots before releasing students Tuesday afternoon. One threat was made to Jefferson Elementary School on Spokane’s South Hill just before 1 p.m., only minutes before students were due to be released early for parent-teacher conferences. About a third of the 520 students had already left the building at 123 E. 37th Ave., said Spokane Public Schools spokesman Kevin Morrison. The remaining students were taken to the gym for safety.
Cheney robbery suspects nabbed after returning to store for cigarettes
Two alleged accomplices to an armed robbery at the Maverick Gas Station in Cheney were identified by police after one returned to the gas station on the same day to buy cigarettes with cash presumably taken during the robbery.