Last year saw Spokane's leaders pinch and save to rid the city of a $25 million deficit while writing its first biennial budget. According to Mayor Lisa Brown, they'll have to do the same this year. Brown announced last week that Spokane's city budget is another $13 million in the hole. Who's to blame? The mayor says the funding gap was caused by skyrocketing jail costs; police, firefighter and city employee union contracts that have raised public employee costs above what Spokane can afford; uncertainty surrounding federal funding; and rising inflation. City Council member Michael Cathcart was forthright with the Spokesman-Review as to what getting back in the black will entail, saying "far more likely than not that there will be force reductions." According to the city's new budget pr

See Full Page