SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane city officials are weighing a new tax on downtown parking that could make it more expensive for drivers to park in the city center.

The proposed tax would impose a 12% levy on commercial parking lots downtown. Multi-story parking facilities like the Parkade or Riverpark Square would face a lower 6% tax rate.

The increases would likely be passed on to drivers, raising concerns among downtown business owners who say parking costs already deter customers.

"We get a lot of phone calls of people, you know. Hey, do you have parking available? And then we tell them no and I think that can deter them to go to a different spot," said EV Warnock, who works at The Mango Tree.

Downtown businesses have struggled since the pandemic, and some worry additional parking costs wi

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