MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District Board of Directors unanimously approved a slightly smaller $1.4 million budget for 2012, when compared to 2011.

The 2012 budget is lower than the 2011 budget by $235,000, said Ron Covey, the board's chairman, at the district's last meeting.

The budget includes: $1,000 for lake shore clean-up, $145,000 for aquatic weed treatment in Moses Lake, $97,000 in sign post, water main, well approval and asphalt work at Connelly Park, and $83,000 for Parker Horn sediment removal from Moses Lake, according to the proposal.

Board Director Rich Archer asked about the new $14,000 budget item titled "public education."

District Manager Curt Carpenter said public education included quarterly information for the public called "Lake View," educating the public about district work and visiting schools.

Covey said the lake forums could fall under this category, but so far, the district hasn't had to spend any money on them.

Archer pointed out the $73,000 increase in payroll from the previous year.

Carpenter said the amount included two positions and raises.

Bill Bailey, of Moses Lake, said he hadn't heard anything about year-to-date expenses.

Covey explained the district falls under the $2 million threshold with the state.

Carpenter said the district has the capability of providing the information, but hasn't been asked by the board to do so.

Ron Baker, of Moses Lake, said the district could buy a Quicken computer program for $250 to generate the information.

Baker volunteered his time to help the district to set up such a report.

Board Director Norm Benson said providing the additional information may be something the district could implement in the future.

Baker said in most budgets he's seen prepared, a carry forward amount was always anticipated.

"I've never seen it where it just balanced out," Baker said.

He asked about a carrying forward projection this year and if the district has a reserve fund.

Covey, Moses Lake's former mayor, said the city always balanced the budget and would amend it at the end of the year to do so.

In the district's case, he wasn't sure about the carry-over amount and asked Carpenter to address Baker's question.

Carpenter said the assessments are different from the budget because the county cannot give the district a solid number on property values.

The district is "guesstimating" the dollar is greater than its budget, he explained.

At the end of the year, the district isn't sure what will happen and tries to do the same as the city by amending its budget, Carpenter said.

The district has a repair and maintenance fund, which is a savings account with the county. The account currently contains $104,000.

The only time the funds were used was when Carpenter started working for the district.

At the time, the district "was $165,000 in the hole" and had to tap the account to carry forward, he explained.