SPOKANE, Wash. — The City of Spokane is facing a $13 million budget deficit, and the city council is still working to craft a version of the biennium budget they can all agree on.

Under the current budget modifications proposed by Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown , roughly 20 city staff positions are on the line.

Spokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson made it clear that she wants to keep all city council staff positions fully funded.

"Nobody is going to be happy about this budget. Everybody will feel some pain and disappointment going forward," said Wilkerson at a special meeting on Thursday.

Early on, the council floated the idea of cutting three of its central staff positions. But now that council members know a one-year, half-percent utility tax increase could bring in $1.5 millio

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