The Pulse Community Poll

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The Pulse Survey Data - As of October 2025

Results remain largely consistent with the previous surveys. Homelessness, public safety, and trust in local government remain the top issues of concern with respondents. The Quality of Life index measured 3.3, a minimal decrease from six months ago.

The Pulse - October 2025

These are some of Spokane voters' top concerns.

Public Safety, Homelessness Remain Top Concerns
As in the first two editions of The Pulse, public safety and homelessness continue to top the list of urgent concerns for Spokane residents with little change in the number of people identifying these as their most urgent issues. Voters’ confidence in local government’s plan to address these challenges improved nine percentage points with 71% of voters saying they lack confidence that local government has an effective plan to address these challenges, down from 80% in April. Residents continue to show strongest support for concrete investments: mental health and addiction services, mobile crisis response teams, and additional police officers.

Public Safety, Homelessness Remain Top Concerns

As in the first two editions of The Pulse, public safety and homelessness continue to top the list of urgent concerns for Spokane residents with little change in the number of people identifying these as their most urgent issues.

Voters’ confidence in local government’s plan to address these challenges improved nine percentage points with 71% of voters saying they lack confidence that local government has an effective plan to address these challenges, down from 80% in April.

Residents continue to show strongest support for concrete investments: mental health and addiction services, mobile crisis response teams, and additional police officers.

Civic Trust and Government Performance
Trust in local government remains low, but is improving with 60% of voters lacking confidence in how their tax dollars are spent. A decrease of six percentage points from April. This continued improvement highlights that clear communication, transparency, and follow-through can move the needle.

Downtown Safety Perceptions Decreased Slightly
This edition of The Pulse saw a slight erosion in perceptions of safety downtown among respondents. Residents who feel safe visiting downtown decreased by six percentage points (daytime visits), and 86% remain concerned about downtown’s future. 89% still agree that its health is critical to Spokane’s economic success, a slight decrease from April.

Basic infrastructure and Civic Maintenance Matter
Residents continue to send a strong message: Get the basics right. 92% say the city should focus on essentials like fixing potholes, maintaining parks, and addressing public safety. This is basically unchanged from 6 months ago. Voters also show strong support for increased public investment in community infrastructure such as schools, parks, and transit with 72% agreeing the region should do more to support these areas.

Basic infrastructure and Civic Maintenance Matter

Residents continue to send a strong message: Get the basics right.

92% say the city should focus on essentials like fixing potholes, maintaining parks, and addressing public safety. This is basically unchanged from 6 months ago. Voters also show strong support for increased public investment in community infrastructure such as schools, parks, and transit with 72% agreeing the region should do more to support these areas.

Review Past Survey Data

The Pulse – October 2024

The Pulse – April 2025

ABOUT THE PULSE

The Pulse provides a benchmark dataset in the Quality of Life Index and reveals critical insights into Spokane County voter sentiment on issues such as public safety, homelessness, housing, education, and economic development. This polling series is the first to scientifically capture Spokane residents’ opinions on a wide range of critical topics, providing data-driven insights on needs and how they change over time. The poll results will guide advocacy and outreach efforts at the local, state, and federal levels, driving community-supported solutions for Spokane’s toughest issues.