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An initiative on the November ballot called the Children Investment Fund aims to help reduce Spokane’s drop out rate. Voters would be asked to pay 35 cents more for every $1,000 their property is worth to create a $5 Million fund for early childhood education, before and after school programs and mentorship programs. Supporters of the Children Initiative Fun say kids only spend 25-percent of their time in school and in order for them to be successful at school they have to be supported before and after and need to start learning in a classroom setting at an early age.
A controversial plan to change the way Spokane’s government operates got one step closer to making the November ballot Monday night. In a 5-2 vote the Spokane City Council voted to allow the City Clerk to validate 5,100 signatures on a petition to bring a city bill of rights to the voters. The bill of rights would divert authority to neighborhoods and unions.