(The Center Square) – Despite a $3.8 million projection in May, Spokane officials reviewed data Thursday that show the city’s general fund deficit heading into 2026 is now at $13.4 million and rising.
If left unaddressed, the revenue shortfall could snowball to more than $50 million by 2031. The Spokane City Council and Mayor Lisa Brown balanced a $25 million hole heading into 2025. Similarly, that general fund deficit was projected to reach about $50 million by 2027 had they not acted.
When they passed a balanced budget in December, many hoped it was the end of their worries.
Trending: We Asked AI Who Wrote the Fake Trump-Epstein Note, And the Answer It Gave Blew Our Minds
By 2031, the cumulative deficit is expected to exceed $200 million. In May, the budget staff put that delta at $137 million by 2030, but it seems those projections underestimated the impact
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!