MLSD to pursue levy in Feb. 2025

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School Board unanimously passed a resolution to proceed with a proposed education program and operations levy. This decision will lead to a special election scheduled for February 11, 2025. 

“It's really going to be fun that the board can be involved this time,” MLSD Board Member Paul Hill said. “There was so much animosity last time because of being forced into decisions that we didn't want to make, and it reflected in the lack of board support on the street corners. It won't be that way this time.” 

Following the resolution, the estimated tax rate for residents is projected to be $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. If approved, the district anticipates collecting approximately $11.2 million in 2026, with the total amount gradually increasing each subsequent year. Interim Superintendent Carol Lewis said the estimates are based on property value, and it is assumed property value will go up over the years. By the fourth year of the levy, collections are expected to reach about $14.2 million. 

“I'm a lot more confident this side or this time around,” MLSD Board Member Amy Breitenstein said. “I've learned a lot more since the last time. We have this in front of us, and we're working with a really amazing team that's willing to take community feedback and willing to make sure that our community is being represented, represented in decisions and also our board. Our board has been very good at hearing what our community has to say.” 

During the board meeting, members affirmed the appointment of Lewis to relay the resolution to the Grant County Auditor. Additionally, Finance Director Mitch Thompson and an attorney from Foster Garvey were assigned the task of finalizing the exact language for the ballot. The board has authorized Lewis to make necessary changes to the ballot title if recommended by the auditor or attorney. 

Lewis said during her presentation that the absence of a levy approval this spring resulted in the district not receiving local effort assistance funds for the current year. The LEA program, which offers funding based on property values, provides greater financial support to districts with lower property values. 

“Moses Lake School District had a levy that was approved in 2021 and the collection on this levy will stop at the end of 2024, so we know that,” Lewis said. “At (the) end of December this year, there will not be a levy collection. There will not be any levy collection anytime in the calendar year 2025.” 

If the levy receives voter approval in 2025, the additional funds would add to the district's financial resources. From January to August 2026, the levy is expected to generate approximately $5.9 million, with an additional $4.9 million in LEA funds. Together, these resources would total around $10.8 million. 

“But just keeping in mind that if we were to run and pass a levy, really in May of 2026 is when we see the first levy collection, think about when you pay taxes, it's not till April in that calendar year,” Lewis said.  

For the 2026-27 school year and beyond, the anticipated revenue from the levy is projected to increase. The district estimates receiving around $11.9 million from the levy and approximately $6.3 million from LEA funds, culminating in about $18.2 million in total resources available for educational programs. 

“I think everybody knows I am pro the levy,” Hill said. “I will assure our citizens in our community that at least my vote and probably the vote of my three fellow board members to the right are because we believe in the levy, not because we're being bullied into approving it. We were driven and told we had to approve it last time or it would not have been approved. One hundred percent different this time.” 

Conversely, should the levy fail to gain approval from voters, the district faces potential budget reductions of $5 million from its current financial plan. Furthermore, in the 2026-27 academic year, the district would have to operate with diminished educational programming. 

“If we were to not run or not approve a levy in 2025 then we would have to further reduce our everything by about $5 million and when I try to kind of break that down and think, well, what does that really mean? $5 million is about 35 certificated staff members or about 65 classified staff members,” Lewis said. “Or if we think of it in terms of facilities, that's the operating costs of our elementary schools is about $5 million or the operating costs of all of our secondary schools put together. So that's a big deal.” 

Lewis detailed the broader implications for students should the levy succeed. If approved, MLSD plans to allocate about $3.6 million for improved academic support during the 2025-26 school year, which begins with the infusion of funds in May 2026. 

The district aims to enhance elementary school physical education, expand course offerings in secondary education, and increase staffing for safety, custodial services and maintenance. Support for activities and athletics would also increase. 

“I just wanted to kind of clarify that athletics and activities are extremely important,” Board Member Ryan Coulston said. “It's still very high on the priority list, but we just have to be aware of when levy money is being received. The verbiage has to be that way, because of the 25-26 school year, we're not going to receive money until 26, so you can only budget for some of those activities.” 

In the 2026-27 school year, the district anticipates an additional allocation of $6 to $7 million for further tier-two and tier-three academic support.  

However, if the levy is not proposed or is voted down, MLSD asserts there will be cuts to educational programming.  

Anticipated reductions may affect extracurricular activities, instructional materials, technology, School Resource Officers, community partnerships benefiting students, specialized courses and staffing across certified and classified positions. Continued reductions are expected in the 2026-27 academic year if the levy fails. 

Lewis said students, community and staff deserve to know the impacts of a passed or failed levy well before the end of school.  

“I think we need to think, though, in terms of what do our students need, and if our students need more positions, then that's what we do,” Lewis said. “We just need to keep students at the forefront of our thinking in any spending plan.” 

    Moses Lake School District Board Member Amy Breitenstein made the motion to move forward with the levy in the spring of 2025. Fellow board member, Paul Hill seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.