MLIRD wary of potential revenue decline

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District is going to put all its upcoming projects on hold as directors wait and see what effect the COVID-19 shutdown will have on property tax payments, which fund the district.

“Based on the economic uncertainty and rate collections, we probably want to put as much on hold as we can,” said Bill Bailey, president of the district’s five-member board of directors, during an online meeting Tuesday evening.

Most affected is the MLIRD’s planned $190,000 aquatic weed abatement program for this year, as well as some work to determine the potential effectiveness of alum treatments to reduce the level of phosphorus in the lake and hopefully limit the blooms of blue-green algae in the summer. The Moses Lake Watershed Council, which includes members of the MLIRD board, was formed last year to address the algae problem.

MLIRD board member Kaj Selmann said that during the federal stimulus in response to the 2008 financial crisis, a fair amount of federal aid was available to governing bodies like the MLIRD, so the district should do some preparation and have projects “shovel-ready” in the event that happens this time around.

“It might be in our interest getting through study portions of things and having plans,” Selmann said. “That may put us in a better position to get funded.”

Bailey said the board will revisit the status of proposed projects, like dredging operations, at its May meeting, when members will have a much better idea what tax receipts look like.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at [email protected].