The Greater Spokane Incorporated Board of Directors voted last week to endorse Together Spokane, a joint ballot measure proposed by Spokane Public Schools and Spokane Parks and Recreation.
GSI Executive Director Alisha Benson says of GSI’s endorsement, “This endorsement reaffirms our commitment to strengthening the region’s educational and community assets.” And the initiative’s website calls the proposal, “A once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape Spokane’s future.”
The initiative consists of two separate measures supporting a bond from Spokane Public Schools and a levy from Spokane Parks and Recreation. If funded, the bonds will support over 200 projects at schools and parks in all areas of the City including ones that will support GSI’s ongoing work to strengthen workforce infrastructure such as establishing a trade high school and improvements to NEWTECH Prep, the District’s career and technical education center.
Other improvements to education and recreation facilities include:
- Rebuilding Madison Elementary School and add a multi-use recreation center
- Rebuilding Adams Elementary School and co-locate Boys & Girls Club programs
- Funding improvements at over 36 area schools
- Building city-wide all-weather fields and lights
- Establishing three new neighborhood parks
- Developing an indoor public aquatics facility
- Constructing an indoor tennis center at Shadle Park
The school bond is an extension of an existing bond would add $0.02 per $1,000 of assessed property value in the first year with an average increase between 2%-3% per year through 2030. The park levy is a new levy and would add $0.27 per $1,000 of assessed property value through 2045.
Together Spokane benefits from strong community-wide partnerships including GSI Member Partners:
- Boys & Girls Club of Spokane County
- Spokane Hoopfest
- Spokane Colleges
- Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
- Spokane Indians Baseball
- Spokane Youth Sports Association
The measures will appear on Spokane City ballots this November and both measures must pass for these proposed improvements to be completed as envisioned. If just one or the other passes, the independently funded projects under the measure will proceed, but joint projects will have to be modified or postponed.
For more information on the initiative and partnership, visit www.togetherspokane.org.
