SPOKANE, Wash. — The City of Spokane faces a $13 million budget deficit — even though it closed a $25 million budget deficit just last year.

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown outlined some of the reasons for the shortfall at a meeting with the city council Thursday morning, listing a slowing national economy, weak consumer confidence and sluggish sales tax revenue. The budget is also feeling impacts from federal contract uncertainty, collective bargaining contracts, inflation and rising jail costs, according to a news release.

"Costs for services at the Spokane County Jail have increased at a rate that far outpaces the increase in the city's average daily population, resulting in $1 million in unanticipated costs for 2024," the release said.

The mayor and council plan to prioritize community saf

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