Sen. Warnick: Collaborate to resolve bond issue

My office has been receiving many inquiries about the recent Moses Lake School District bond situation, asking me what I can do concerning the voter-approved bond. This is not necessarily a state issue. However, I am a voter, a concerned citizen, and a grandmother of school-aged children in the Moses Lake School District. I am also the state senator representing Moses Lake with a duty to help decide the best direction for children all over our state.

The current school board also has a duty to manage resources wisely and determine the best direction for the children and taxpayers of Moses Lake.

Serving as a member of the capital budget team, I have the duty to make sure the state meets its obligations to fund construction needs of schools aimed at delivering a world-class education. We recently approved the state’s construction budget, which includes more than $1 billion for K-12 education-facility construction, renovation or modernization statewide.

From that pool of money, schools are able to obtain matching funds to meet their needs. The matching funds process starts after the local voters approve a bond and the school board signs a contract for construction of a new school building.

So my response to what I can do is that we have done our part as a Legislature to make sure the matching funds are available, and just like other citizens and property taxpayers, I exercised my right to vote on the bond and school board races.

I urge all involved to re-read the recent Columbia Basin Herald editorial about this issue and find a spirit of collaboration to move forward for our community’s future – our schoolchildren.

Sen. Judy Warnick

Moses Lake