Governmental Affairs Radar
March 29, 2023
Spokane Council rolls back devastating impact fees for housing construction;
REALTOR® testimony key factor
In response to a call from Spokane REALTORS® and the housing construction community, the Spokane City Council has rolled back it's devastating water and sewer connection fees.

A poll showed builders say they will be shutting down more than 2,000 construction projects across the region in response to City Council 10-fold increase in Impact Fees.

Instead, the city has now reset the connection fees to $6,000 until March 4th, 2024.

The fees passed two weeks ago would have added an additional $19,000 to $27,000 per new house to for water/sewer hookups.
Spokane City Council dials back development fee increases until next March
By a 6-1 vote, the development fee increases were significantly lowered until March 5, 2024.
WR Member Call to Action!

Don’t Fund Affordable Housing by Making Housing More Expensive
HB 1628 would increase the REET on all sales over $5 Million from 3% to 4% of the sales price regardless of the category and would add a local REET 3 option that would allow all local jurisdictions to increase REET on all transactions by .25% with a vote of the council.

The funds from these tax increases are intended to fund affordable housing but you can anticipate these increases will be passed on to the consumer.
Washington REALTORS® acknowledges the need for more affordable housing and has supported a number of funding solutions, but the bottom line is that you don’t fund affordable housing by making housing more expensive.

WR is strongly opposing this bill.


Watch the 30-second video here:
Washington REALTORS® launched an email Call To Action asking all our members to email their legislators to ask them to oppose this bill.

You may send a message to your lawmakers through this button:
Sue Lani Madsen: Need the right metrics to steer response to Spokane’s dual housing crises
Somewhere in the drive for more housing and more affordable housing, Spokane is losing its way, according to Realtors, builders and landlords.

Spokane is finally on the right track with new tenant-landlord ordinances and higher impact fees to pay for infrastructure for an expanding city, according to some City Council members and tenant advocates.

So who’s right?

The best way to evaluate any plan is to monitor for early signs of failure and make a timely course correction.

The first challenge is agreeing on what metrics will measure positive and negative impacts.

The second is having leadership in place willing to see flaws and make corrections.
As a REALTOR® in Washington State, you are likely familiar with the ongoing housing shortage and its impact on the local real estate market.

Fortunately, Washington REALTORS® is working with lawmakers in the state, and they are taking steps to address this issue by considering changes to density zoning regulations.

These changes could have a significant impact on the availability and affordability of housing in the state.

The proposed changes would allow for increased density in certain areas, making it easier for developers to build more housing units.
WA looks to address housing shortage with density, zoning changes

A 'strange bedfellows' political alignment has brought together Democrats, Republicans, business, labor and others in search of a fix.
Last day of session (Sine Die): April 24, 2023.
Running for Office
Have you ever considered running for office?

Spokane REALTORS® will be hosting private candidate coaching sessions.

Contact Governmental Affairs Director Darin Watkins for more information.
RPAC Update
Did you know that over 70% of Spokane REALTOR® members now support the REALTOR® Party Action Committee?

This helps fund candidates we support and issues that we get behind.

Your auction items are needed for our special event April 1st – please contact RPAC Chair Keri McCombs for details.t Link