Moses Lake staff to roll out service‑level budgeting and six‑year forecast; public engagement planned

City staff told the council they will present an updated six‑year financial forecast and introduce a service‑level budgeting framework intended to categorize departmental programs as core, basic or enhanced.

The plan calls for an initial forecast presentation on Feb. 10 with consultant Jeff Cooley; outreach will include targeted engagement with interest groups, an online interactive budgeting tool where residents can simulate choices, a town hall, and a statistically valid survey. Staff said the council will review program costings and use the service‑level lens to prioritize and direct a plan that the city aims to adopt in late April.

City leaders said the process will include revenue and expenditure options — including revenue measures or ballot options — but staff emphasized the role of council direction in setting priorities and that the process will include difficult tradeoffs. The city also said it will hold neighborhood meetings (Division Street neighborhood meeting planned for March 25) and a code‑enforcement/beautification workshop in June.

Next steps: staff will present the forecast and program lists on Feb. 10, return on Feb. 24 with revenue options, and present community input and modeling results in April ahead of a targeted adoption date in late April.