Spokane Council decides to move forward with fluoridation study

Spokane City Council voted Monday evening to amend an agreement to allow the city to investigate the feasibility of fluoridating urban water supplies.

The deal means the city will accept $ 600,000 from the Arcora Foundation without worrying about having to repay the money if the city decides not to fluoridate. The repayment regulation is a provision of the current contract.

Councilor Lori Kinnear says the vote will give the city’s engineers the green light to start a feasibility study.

“If we decide later that this has to be put to a vote, an advisory vote, voters will be informed of the cost and what it will take to actually do something like this. So that doesn’t mean in any way that we’re going to fluoridate. It’s just a request at this point, “she said.

Opponents of fluoridation say the city shouldn’t even take the step of conducting a study. They say research shows that the disadvantages of taking fluoride, including cognitive development problems in young children, outweigh the positive aspects of protecting teeth. They argue that fluoride is a better tool for teeth when it can be applied directly.

The Arcora Foundation is a financial supporter of Spokane Public Radio.