Spokane County commissioners talk data centers, proposed new tax
Spokane County commissioners scheduled an October 20 public hearing on extending the county's moratorium on new data centers through June 1. The existing pause prevents data center permit applications from being accepted or approved on county land and has received some public support.
Spokane County commissioners scheduled a public hearing for Oct. 20 on a proposed extension of the county’s data center moratorium. The temporary pause, enacted earlier in the year, prevents the county from accepting or approving permits for new data centers and is currently set to expire Dec. 15. No final decision was made at the meeting, but public comments supported extending the moratorium through June 1 of the following year.
Commissioners also heard comments on a proposed 0.1% sales and use tax intended to address budget pressures affecting law enforcement and criminal justice services. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels has warned that without additional revenue, the department could face major staff reductions, while other residents opposed new taxes or called for changes to law enforcement practices.