Spokane Farmers' Markets & Department of Revenue Update

I previously reported that the actions of the Department of Revenue may disrupt several Spokane Farmers' Markets by removing the tax exempts status of the church parking lots used to host the markets. Of the three markets effected, both the Millwood Farmers' Market and the Downtown Farmers' Market will accept the ruling of the Dept. of Revenue and absorb the costs of property taxes into the operation of the markets. The session of Millwood Presbyterian has agreed to cover the cost of around $700 in annual property taxes for the parking lot and the downtown market non-profit corporation will pay the much more substantial cost of just under $3,000 of annual property taxes. I haven't heard about the plans of the South Perry Market. I think the Spokesman Review is running an article in tomorrow's edition about the situation.

Comments

[Angela Pizelo]

Craig-

Paster Lawrence from First Covenant Church wrote this great article for a denomination publiciation...

http://www.covchurch.org/uploads/IQ/XZ/IQXZkTSfpmsSoW3Ly91IJg/When-the-Market.pdf

[dan hansen]

It seems likely this will be addressed in next year's legislative session (assuming the pols aren't consumed by a continuing budget crisis).
The markets could not have a better-placed friend than the Senate Majority Leader, who said in today's S-R story that she'll look for a solution. If a bill is drafted, it's hard to imagine the politician who would be willing to do anything that might be perceived as anti-farmers market.
We should be grateful to Rich Roesler, Jesse Tinsley and the editors for a good story with prominent play. And Craig, as always, represented the issue with proper grace.