Moses Lake city manager outlines 2026 budget proposals, strategic opportunities fund and department changes at workshop

City Manager Rob Carlinzi opened a special Moses Lake City Council budget workshop at 6:33 p.m., presenting department-by-department proposals and inviting council direction on the draft 2026 spending plan.

The session covered the City Council budget, the city manager’s office, the newly proposed strategic opportunities fund, a standalone city clerk division, human resources and technology services, and a summary of capital funds and the six‑year Capital Improvement Plan.

"This is a time for you to ask all the questions you want. Give us all the direction and guidance that you want," City Manager Rob Carlinzi said as he described the meeting’s purpose.

Why it matters: Staff described a budget framed to smooth internal service allocations and to shift a handful of line items between funds. The package seeks to preserve fund balances while funding several one‑time priorities — including downtown design work, infrastructure planning and grant match strategies — and to prepare the city for rising software and technology costs.

Major department highlights

- City Council: Madeline Prentice, the staff member who presented the council budget, told the council the proposed council expenses total $140,000, a 29.8% decrease mainly caused by moving the state lobbying contract out of the council budget and allocating it across three funds (city manager’s office, water fund and street fund). Supplies were increased to $5,000 to create a replacement budget for council iPads, and a $6,500 miscellaneous line was proposed for Sister City exchange gifts and quincentennial items. Prentice also said $1,500 is proposed for community recognition awards.

- City Manager’s office: Carlinzi said the proposed city manager budget drops about 17% year over year, primarily because the city clerk’s functions are being split into their own budget and because approximately $110,000 of lodging‑tax marketing costs are moving from the manager’s office to Parks & Recreation. Carlinzi also proposed moving the housing and grants manager into the city manager’s office and retitling that position assistant to the city manager; that person…