MOSES LAKE BUDGET

Moses Lake 2011 budget, Nov. 15, 2010, states the water/sewer fund has roughly $18 million set aside, it also has $9.2 million in account fund for future water/sewer construction that has been established. Also, water/sewer fund will receive $3 million from a clean up lawsuit brought by the City of Moses Lake against the Department of Defense, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Dec. 24, 2010. That gives the water/sewer department $30.2 million in their account. Water/sewer basic fee is about $62.75; there is also a $5 stormwater fee, which makes it about $67.75 per month. 8,800 households pay this fee, which comes to another $596,200 per month in the water/sewer fund.

Chief Taylor explained the "more bang for your buck" in the council meeting, Jan. 25, 2011. If the city council wants the very best ambulance services for the Moses Lake citizens they should go with the professional Moses Lake Fire Department.

Moses Lake council had the power to impose a $5 stormwater fee, April 10, 2010, without a vote from the citizens. The water/sewer department has roughly $30.2 million in account. The citizens are now paying $8.25 for the ambulance services. Have the city council lower the ambulance fee to $4.20 (the old rate) and with council power, move the $5 stormwater fee that the citizens pay, to the ambulance fee, for a grand total of $9.20 that the citizens are paying. That is 95 cents more a month than the ambulance fee is getting now.

Robert Black

Moses Lake