Moses Lake council sends public-safety sales-tax measure to November ballot, adopts six-year TIP

The Moses Lake City Council voted June 9 to place a local public-safety sales-and-use tax on the Nov. 3 general-election ballot and unanimously adopted its six-year Transportation Improvement Program.

The sales-tax proposal (Resolution 4042) would authorize a locally imposed sales-and-use tax intended for criminal-justice purposes. City staff told the council the earliest collection could begin would be April 2027 and estimated roughly $1.27 million in annual revenue if voters approve the measure. Staff said the city must meet eligibility criteria set by statute and a related Criminal Justice Training Commission grant program before imposing the tax or applying for grants tied to it.

Katherine Kenisonson, who presented the draft resolution and explanatory statement, said the council can amend the recital and explanatory language before the Aug. 4 filing deadline for the county. She also described the mechanics for forming pro and con committees and noted the council could still impose the tax councilmanically at a later date even if voters reject it.

Supporters on the council emphasized recurring revenue as a way to maintain emergency services and public-safety staffing in the face of rising personnel and service costs. Council Member Fans said the sales-tax spreads the cost across visitors and shoppers as well as residents. Opponents and questioners pressed for clarity on permitted uses and whether the city would describe impacts if the measure failed; staff said pro and con committees and city education materials would provide the public with those scenarios. City staff confirmed the explanatory statement omits explicit language about homelessness spending so the funds would be focused on law-enforcement and criminal-justice services as described in the draft.

At the same meeting the council also adopted Resolution 4039, the six-year Transportation Improvement Program. Staff explained the TIP is an advisory list required by state law that makes projects eligible for state and federal mobility grants. Council discussion highlighted that many large-line items (such as multi-segment trails and railroad-acquisition frontage improvements) would be grant-funded rather than paid directly from city transportation dollars. Projects noted as currently budgeted or anticipated for 2026'027 included reconstruction of Hamilton Drive, the Pioneer Way repaving grant, a Nelson Road grant, and initial funds for the environmental-impact study for a potential bridge across the lake.

The council voted to place the public-safety sales-tax question on the ballot by a voice vote (city record shows an opposition comment during the final call) and approved the TIP unanimously. Staff said they will work with the finance director and police leadership to model budget scenarios with and without the new revenue as the city prepares the 2027 budget.

Next steps: staff will file the ballot measure and explanatory materials with the county by Aug. 4, finalize the city's public education materials and invite public comment through the pro/con committee process, and return budget scenario information during the 2027 budget process.