As Spokane County approaches the Aug. 4 primary, our community finds itself with a growing sense of exhaustion from politics in general and economic uncertainty in specific. Between a stream of tax proposals and even some administrative ballot mistakes, it's easy for voters to feel a sense of fatigue. Still, maintaining our economic stability requires us to push through the noise and ensure our voices are heard.

The Spokane business community is a major stakeholder in this election, which involves three tax measures and a number of political races that will trim down candidates for the November ballot.

The measures on this ballot — including the 0.2% STA sales tax renewal, a West Plains Aquifer protection fee, and a 12-cent property tax increase for Spokane County Library District — impact the infrastructure and fabric that support our economy.

That means that as voters, we have difficult choices to make. As Spokane Business Association's Gavin Cooley notes, many residents are viewing these tax measures through the lens of a "household budget." There is a natural tendency for people to curb spending when they have concerns about the general economic climate.

Business leaders must carefully weigh these perspectives to decide which investments will truly make our "household" sturdy.

As Cooley points out, saying "yes" to one measure often necessitates saying "no" to another.

It's also our duty to push for the candidates we want representing business and employer interests on the ballot, which is why voter participation is crucial.

The primary covers a wide range of offices that collectively could play a role in dictating the region's future economy. In addition to tax measures, the August ballot includes federal, legislative, and judicial races, as well as choices for municipal and school board members, who will manage the foundational organizations and workforce development — such as our schools and libraries — that directly support a stable economy.

The primary is a powerful tool for preselecting the leaders who will eventually manage the very tax revenues and infrastructure projects being debated on the primary ballot. Business leaders should look for candidates who will act as fiscal stewards of the community's resources, and to not make more difficult the act of employing our community's residents.

Voter fatigue was not helped by the news that nearly 6,000 Spokane County ballots were mailed with significant errors. Such snafus are frustrating, but they must not lead to apathy. Corrective action has been taken by Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton, who authorized the issuance of supplemental and replacement ballots featuring instructions for affected voters to ensure the voter's intent is accurately captured in the results.

The current ballot errors are a setback, but by carefully weighing the economic impact of each measure and political race, we fulfill our responsibility to keep Spokane County’s economy stable and resilient. 

If we succumb to political or informational fatigue and fail to vote, we allow others to decide our future representatives and the direction of our libraries, our transit systems, and our water quality. Now is the time to look past that weariness and focus on the long-term health of our community. Please vote.