Extra money for human services agencies. Maybe.

By John Vlahovich
Spokane Public Radio

The Spokane city council is in a bit of a quandary after last night’s vote to spend additional money on local human services programs.

They’ve come up with nearly $224,000 left unspent from the 2005 city budget that could be added to the $767,000 already budgeted this year for human services agencies.

But council member Nancy McLaughlin thinks adding roughly $195,000 would be enough, considering Spokane’s current financial situation.

“My heart’s desire is to, if I could give them every last dollar of this I could, but at the same time we’re looking at our budget crunch still,” said McLaughlin. “We’ve asked labor unions to give back in concessions. We’ve been asking everyone to tighten in their budgets.”

McLaughlin suggests cutting part of the Community Health Association of Spokane – or CHAS – dental program allocation along with some added money for Guild School and WSU mobile health unit.

McLaughlin lost when a bare majority of the council voted Monday night to allot the full $224,000.

But she may yet get her way. The council still has to move the money into the current city budget via the procedure called an emergency budget ordinance. To do that will require a supermajority, or five, council votes.