Funded by a "Sales Tax Rebate" (state money diverted to local use) and Lodging Taxes. If you buy a car or book a room in Spokane, you are funding the PFD.
They determine the cultural calendar. By controlling the venues (Arena, Podium), they decide which events (NCAA, concerts, rallies) come to the city.
The "Event Economy" creates traffic surges and parking scarcity in the North Bank district, dictating the flow of movement on event nights.
A massive consumer of energy and infrastructure. The Convention Center expansion permanently altered the riverfront landscape.
The Verdict: The "Technocratic" Model. Efficient at building buildings, but structurally insulated from democracy. The voters pay the debt, but the appointees call the shots.
Spectacle over Substance. The PFD specializes in "Big Shiny Things" that look good on postcards but require constant public subsidy to operate.