(The Center Square) – Spokane spent nearly $40,000 on a feasibility study that told Mayor Lisa Brown it would cost $100 million to transition to an independent dispatch service, according to public records.
Reporting by The Center Square first uncovered the feasibility study in September, ahead of a January deadline for the city to transition to a new emergency dispatch service. The city has relied on Spokane Regional Emergency Communications for the last few years, but now wants more control over funding.
While state lawmakers brokered a compromise earlier this year that will position the city to do so, the feasibility study said it would take at least 14 months to stand up a new dispatch service. Both parties are still negotiating the details and may agree to temporarily reintegrate the city into SREC’s system…