In less than a week, Spokane County voters will decide whether to add additional police officers and retain more than two dozen firefighters.
Proposition 1, which appears on the Feb. 12 special election ballot, would fund the hiring of 20 Spokane police officers and retain 30 of the 48 firefighters hired thanks to the SAFER grant two years ago.
If Prop 1 passes, homeowners will pay a $0.30 tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value.
For example, a $200,000 home would cost $60 a year, and a $300,000 home would cost $90 a year.
Proponents of the levy say it will increase public safety. According to Prop 1, the Spokane Police Department has the capacity to investigate just 25 percent of property crime.