Moses Lake may close museum, rec center, rink

MOSES LAKE - Facing a task of making up a $2.8 million budget deficit, the City of Moses Lake may be forced to close some community attractions to save money.

City Manager Joe Gavinski announced at this week's City Council meeting that the museum, Larsen Recreation Center and skating rink may close to the public in an attempt to close the budget deficit.

As part of the settlement between Grant County and REC Silicon, the city had to pay back about $880,000 to REC in property taxes and is losing about $2 million in property tax revenue in 2013.

Gavinski said the city can make up about $2.3 million through the reserve funds, higher than expected revenue on other taxes and not filling open positions.

About $1 million would be used from the fund balance, he added.

The city has also been able to save about $800,000 this year by leaving about 10 city positions open throughout city departments and also reducing money spent on street construction and repair, Gavinski said.

Another $500,000 would come from additional revenue including increased funds collected from sales tax.

The city is still roughly $500,000 short of balancing the budget.

"We're still combing through the budget and searching how to make that up," Gavinski said.

Options include closing down the Larsen Recreation Center including the skating rink and BMX track and shutting down the Museum and Art Center.

That's not to say the facilities are going to disappear, just that they would not be open to the public," Gavinski said, adding the closings would be temporary until the state Board of Tax Appeals case between REC Silicon and the county is resolved, scheduled for hearing in March next year.

Gavinski said other possibilities include reducing maintenance for parks, streets and landscaping and closing restrooms at the city parks.

No decision was made for any closures at Tuesday's council meeting.