MOSES LAKE — There will be fireworks for next year’s Fourth of July Freedom Fest in Moses Lake despite initial funding concerns, after the Moses Lake City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to add $50,000 to the 2021 budget to pay for the show.

While discussing next year’s budget at Tuesday’s city council meeting, council member Karen Liebrecht asked to add the event even though the city Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recently decided not to fund the festival.

The city faces revenue constraints related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Liebrecht lobbied other council members to add their support for the addition to the budget to pay for fireworks and other entertainment at the annual festival.

“I know the budget is stressed, but I also know that in this unusual year of 2020, and with COVID causing so much isolation, it’s one of the few things that people can do in this city, not in groups, but as a way of celebrating our country’s independence.”

Council members also consulted city Finance Director Cindy Jensen, who said there were available funds within the city’s portion of the local hotel-motel tax to pay for the celebration.