Spokane Mayor Says City is Financially Strong

Spokane is fortunate to have a diverse economy that avoids wild swings up or down. Steady growth and a relative low cost of living helps make Spokane an attractive place to lice.

clipped from www.spokesmanreview.com Verner says state of the city is strong Spokane's finances much better off than nation's, she says Jonathan Brunt Staff writer October 14, 2008 Though federal leaders acted in ways that have thrown the nation's economy into turmoil, Spokane officials' foresight will help the city survive hard economic times, Spokane Mayor Mary Verner said Monday in her annual state of the city address. "At the local level, we will feel the impacts of private-sector and federal government behaviors that arose from thinking in the short term without appropriately planning for long-term consequences," Verner said, noting Congress' recent $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. "That is not the legacy we want to leave for Spokane's future generations." The mayor said she will soon present to the City Council a balanced budget for 2009 and 2010. "In these economic times, I would venture to say that most cities are struggling just to balance 2009, maybe even 2008," she said.