Spokane Faces $400K in New City Legal Costs

Spokane City Council is preparing to authorize $400,000 in additional legal expenses across two court cases and labor talks. Of that sum, $100,000 would go toward litigation involving firefighters dismissed after declining COVID-19 vaccination, raising spending on that case to $1,250,000. Another $150,000 would support the city’s defense against claims from the ACLU of Washington and Jewels Helping Hands concerning rules for homeless camping and rights-of-way. That case would then carry a total cost of $400,000. The remaining $150,000 is for legal work tied to labor negotiations, increasing that expense to $750,000.

These costs come as council members consider Spokane’s 2027 and 2028 budget, with likely cuts shaping decisions about city programs and spending. Residents had an earlier opportunity to comment, and additional budget hearings are scheduled for Wednesday, November 11, and November 18. A council vote is expected to be placed on the calendar shortly afterward.

Public defense workloads are also headed for review. Spokane County plans to schedule a December 1 hearing on standards revised in response to a state supreme court ruling from last year. Under the new caps, one defender may handle no more than 47 felony cases or 120 misdemeanor cases annually—fewer than half the prior limits. The proposed county policy would replace broader language about workloads harming work quality with a requirement that defenders remain within the court’s limits.