City of Moses Lake Proposition No. 1 — Public Safety Sales and Use Tax (Grant County)

What it does

The Moses Lake City Council adopted Resolution No. 4042 concerning funding for public safety services. This proposition would increase the sales and use tax rate by 1/10th of 1% (0.1%, or one cent per $10 sale) to provide funding for public safety services to meet increased demand and calls for service; paying public safety operations, maintenance and capital; providing for law enforcement staffing and retention; and providing other criminal justice City operations and services as permitted under RCW 82.14.450. Should this proposition be approved?

A YES vote means

Moses Lake's sales tax would rise by 0.1% (one cent per $10 sale) to fund public safety, including law enforcement staffing and other criminal justice services.

A NO vote means

Moses Lake's sales tax would not rise by 0.1% for public safety.

What it would cost

1% sales tax: $1 on a $100 taxable purchase.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

The Moses Lake City Council adopted Resolution 4042 on June 9, 2026 by a 7-0 vote, sending the public safety sales tax to the November ballot, according to the council's minutes.

The minutes say the council preferred to seek voter approval rather than impose the tax by council resolution. The city attorney said the tax would raise an estimated $1.27 million for criminal justice.

The city says the measure grew out of its Financial Sustainability Plan to address projected operating budget challenges. It says the tax, authorized under RCW 82.14.450, would add 10 cents per $100 of taxable retail purchases in the city.

Put on the ballot by Moses Lake City Council, 7-0, June 9, 2026 (Resolution 4042).

From official source 1, official source 2.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Moses Lake Proposition No. 1 mean?

Moses Lake's sales tax would rise by 0.1% (one cent per $10 sale) to fund public safety, including law enforcement staffing and other criminal justice services.

What does a NO vote on City of Moses Lake Proposition No. 1 mean?

Moses Lake's sales tax would not rise by 0.1% for public safety.

How many votes does City of Moses Lake Proposition No. 1 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City of Moses Lake Proposition No. 1?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.