Moses Lake School Board president not committing to forensic audit of district finances

MOSES LAKE, Wash. — The Moses Lake Board President announced it is not currently committing to a forensic audit of the School District’s finances.

The Moses Lake School District is working to combat a $20 million budget deficit caused in large part by a failed levy and an $11 million accounting error.

Over 200 employees were laid off to try and combat the budget issue.

MLSD Board President Kirryn Jensen said in a statement “Right now, we’re in the middle of a deep dive with the state’s comprehensive audit. This isn’t just a quick once-over; it’s a full-scale review to figure out what went wrong, how we got here, and what needs to change. I think it’s important to let that process play out before making any big decisions, like committing to a forensic audit.”

Jensen added that a forensic audit is not being fully ruled out and will be considered if the state audit shows it’s needed.

In the meantime, Jensen said the district board is taking steps to address community concerns over finances, including putting out regular financial reports, posting financial reports on the district website, double-checking spending and starting a Financial Oversight Committee.

The district also proposed a new $53 million, four-year levy to replace the 2021 levy that expired at the end of 2024.

You can read Jensen’s full statement below:

Hi everyone,I want to take a minute to talk directly with you about something I know is on a lot of people’s minds—our district’s finances and the calls for a forensic audit. I’ve heard your concerns loud and clear, whether it’s been through conversations, at meetings, or even on social media. I get it. This has been a tough situation, and people want answers.Right now, we’re in the middle of a deep dive with the state’s comprehensive audit. This isn’t just a quick once-over; it’s a full-scale review to figure out what went wrong, how we got here, and what needs to change. I think it’s important to let that process play out before making any big decisions, like committing to a forensic audit. But let me be clear: I’m not ruling it out. If the state audit shows it’s needed, I will absolutely consider it and take it to the rest of the board for discussion.That said, we’ve already started taking steps to make things better. Here’s what we’re doing:Keeping things open. We’re posting all kinds of financial reports on our website so you can see for yourself where the money is going.Double-checking everything. Two board members now go through all our spending twice a month to make sure nothing’s slipping through the cracks.Making smarter plans. We’ve built this year’s budget based on what we actually have, not just guesses.Bringing you in. We’ve started a Financial Oversight Committee with community members to help keep us on track.Sharing updates. From now on, we’ll be putting out regular financial reports so you’re not left wondering what’s happening.I know these steps don’t fix everything overnight, but they’re part of us working to rebuild trust with you.I also want to acknowledge the frustration out there. I feel it, too. This has been a mess, and we’re working hard to clean it up. It’s going to take time, but we’re committed to being transparent and honest along the way.If you’re looking for more details, I’d encourage you to check out www.mlsd161.org. Or, if you want to talk, reach out—I’d be happy to hear your thoughts or answer any questions.Thank you for caring so much about our schools and our kids. Your voices are important, and we’re listening.Take care,Kirryn JensenBoard President, Moses Lake School District