Spokane Home Builders Association Applauds City Council's Efforts to Amend Their Error

Spokane City Council begins the process to amend their recent fee hike that ignored the housing crisis and community input by utilizing a compromise plan.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Spokane, WA. March 27, 2023—This week, Joel White, executive director of the Spokane Home Builders Association issued a statement recognizing the Spokane City Council’s attempt to begin the process of amending their poor decision on March 13 to raise General Facilities Charges by 1400%.

“The Spokane City Council is rightly working to fund much-needed infrastructure improvements in the city, but earlier this month the Council made a mistake. Their decision to increase the cost of new homes by at least $18,500 to cover infrastructure needs was undoubtedly an unprecedented action that will only worsen the housing crisis. In making their decision on March 13th, the council also ignored the pleas of community members to create an open and transparent process to answer the critical question of ‘What is the best way to fund infrastructure improvements in our city?’ The Spokane Home Builders Association believes that the answer to that question must take into account the direct impact GFCs have on housing prices. If keeping a lid on housing costs is a community-wide value, we should be exploring alternative funding strategies that can help to disperse the cost of infrastructure–rather than simply heaping heavy costs onto the backs of new homes, which in turn drives up housing costs.

We applaud Council President Beggs for choosing to bring forward an amendment that was first suggested by Councilman Bingle in a press conference with the Mayor on March 10th. This hybrid solution that the Spokane Home Builders Association has supported since introduced will only raise GFCs by 66% immediately and allow for community hearings and feedback between now and March 4th, 2024. The collaborative solution also calls for a study of additional funding options and an inclusive public process that would allow affected stakeholders meaningful opportunity for input on this major decision. When CP Beggs originally declined calls for this reasonable and collaborative approach, it signaled a disregard for a transparent and responsible public process. Moving forward we are hopeful policies that affect housing will be as important to the Council as it is to the community.”

Volunteers Needed

May 20th will be our 3rd Annual Frame Your Future Construction Camp! We are in need of framing and carpenter volunteers to help guide the students in the construction of sheds. If you are interested in introducing the next generation to a career in the trades, please register to be a volunteer this year!

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