County may consider a bond issue

The Sweetwater County Commissioners may investigate if using bonds to pay for part of its proposed judicial building is a good idea.

However, not everyone is on board with the idea.

Commissioner John Kolb asked the other commissioners about their thoughts on possibly bonding a portion of the upcoming judicial complex building costs. The building, with an estimated cost of approximately $20 million, would combine the county’s two circuit courts into one facility near the Sweetwater County Detention Center.

Kolb, having discussions with Sweetwater County Treasurer Robb Slaughter, entertained the idea after hearing Slaughter’s concerns about the county’s fiscal future.

Sweetwater County is preparing for a $5-million decrease in revenue projected for the next fiscal year, which begins July 2016. Slaughter said economic data he’s received suggests the economic downturn caused by lower oil prices may continue through fiscal year 2018.

Commissioner Wally Johnson opposes the idea, saying the state has billions in rainy day funds when they can’t decide what it means to have a “rainy day.” He opposes the idea, saying he wouldn’t have supported moving forward with the judicial building if he didn’t think the county could afford it. After hearing Slaughter’s concerns that the anticipated revenue decrease may result in employees at some smaller county agencies losing their jobs, Johnson said government should shrink if faced with declining revenues.

“I’ll be no part of that,” Johnson said. “I will not fund the current size of government with borrowed funds.”

Commissioner Don Van Matre follows Johnson’s stance in regards to using revenue bonds, but says the judicial center is more of a need than a want for Sweetwater County. The idea that it is a need comes from the Rock Springs Circuit Court, which faces many logistical challenges involving security and prisoner movement. The circuit court is housed in what used to be a hospital in Rock Springs.

Commissioners Reid West, Randall Wendling and Kolb believe the option should at least be looked at.

Slaughter said the county can pay for the building without utilizing revenue bonds, but believes using a revenue bond or other funding mechanism for part of the cost could aid the county in the future by having more funds available in their general reserve.