Moses Lake 2025 budget projected at $119 million

MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake is projected to spend about $119.62 million in 2025, an increase of about $13 million from 2024. That includes an increase of about $8 million in capital projects. The preliminary budget was presented to the Moses Lake City Council at its regular meeting Tuesday; city residents will have a chance to comment on it during a public hearing at the Nov. 26 council meeting.

Balancing the 2025 budget will require a transfer from the city’s reserve funds. 

City Finance Director Madeline Prentice said during the budget presentation that the projected city revenue is about $107 million. That will require the transfer of about $15.87 million from the reserves to balance the budget. 

That would leave the city with about $48.8 million in its reserve account, according to information in the preliminary budget presentation. Mayor Dustin Swartz said in a later interview he doesn’t think the city will have to use its reserves very often. 

“I don’t expect this to be a trend,” Swartz said. 

In the context of a $119 million budget, the dip in reserves has a relatively small impact, he said. 

The city is starting to build a fund that can be used in case of emergencies. Prentice said $500,000 will be deposited in the “rainy day” fund. 

“So that we have excess money available in the event of an emergency or if we need to replenish the general fund balance,” she said. 

The general fund pays for most city operations and is budgeted at $40.17 million. It includes police, animal control, the fire department, the parks department and community development.  

The budget includes money to hire three Moses Lake Police Department officers, a request that originally came from the council. Council members also requested hiring a lobbyist. Funding for an assistant city manager position was eliminated.  

City officials are starting a study to assess options for the Moses Lake Fire Department. 

“To make a significant impact on your budget, and something we’ve discussed, would be the formation of a regional fire authority,” Interim City Manager Mike Jackson said. “That is a way to free up millions of dollars to help support other city functions. We have been doing some work, and we’re getting some contacts that we can start to discuss the approach and an outline for developing a fire authority next year.”  

The budget includes $75,000 for a feasibility study for a regional fire authority, which would include ambulance services.  

The MLPD will add a sergeant in 2025 and eliminate one corporal position. The Community Service Officer will be replaced upon retirement with a fully commissioned officer. Fire Chief Brett Bastian will be retiring in 2025, and $79,000 has been budgeted for associated costs.  

Money is allocated for finding additional sources of revenue, such as utility connection fees, traffic mitigation fees and “latecomer agreements,” which would allow the city to recover some costs of improvements from property owners who build near already-developed property. 

The city will be converting to a new financial system; the cost of converting to the new system has been budgeted at $550,000. 

The city has allocated $6.53 million in 2025 for the construction of a multi-lane roundabout at the intersection of South Pioneer Way and Yonezawa Boulevard. East Nelson Road will get upgraded curbs and ADA access, along with pedestrian beacons at crosswalks. The allocation for that project is $3.17 million, with $2.18 million of that from a Safe Routes to Schools grant.  

The budget also includes money to complete the futsal courts in Dano Park next year and $55,000 to replace components at the Surf ‘n Slide water park.  

City officials will be looking at ways to reduce water use, starting with the median strips on some city streets. The capital budget includes $70,000 to replace grass with plants that use less water. 

Work has been halted on a new police station since funding hasn’t been secured, according to budget documents. A design was completed earlier this year. 

The 2025 budget allocates $900,000 to replace water meters. Sewer work is planned along Westshore Drive, and $765,000 has been allocated to that.  

Solar panels will be added to the roof of the Civic Center, with the help of a $1.49 million grant. Total allocation for 2025 is $1.56 million; completion is scheduled for 2025. 

The city has received funding to renovate the Moses Lake Sleep Center, with an allocation of $1.44 million. 

Work will start in 2025 on a pedestrian and bike path from Patton Boulevard to Grape Drive along state Route 17. For 2025 the project has been allocated $275,000.