Our view: Sixth-penny tax could pay for water work

If you build it, they will come.

That statement, an often misquoted line from the film “Field of Dreams,” has been applied to economic development meaning once something is built, support will follow. This has been true for the Jamestown area. After a new water system was built in the Jamestown-Rio Vista Water and Sewer District, interest in developing land which previously had no access to water suddenly took off.

The Love’s Travel Stop under construction is likely only the beginning of commercial investment in the area. Proof of this can be seen in a zone change request the county’s planning and zoning board will hear next month, which aims to change the zoning of rural residential land directly across from the Love’s location to commercial land. It isn’t difficult to see why that change is being requested. Water is responsible for all the recent interest in development west of Jamestown.

Suppose access to water is extended toward the airport and the Middle Baxter Road area the Sweetwater Economic Development Coalition is studying for the placement of an industrial complex. It’s located near an airport, near a major interstate, near a railroad and close to a major population center in Wyoming. We think similar growth would be possible once industrial uses are identified.

Would it be as fast as we’ve seen near Jamestown? Not really. However, once a few industrial sites are established, it isn’t hard to imagine growth following.

Grants are being investigated to pay for the project, however much the final cost would be.

Yet, we think a limited special purpose tax, often referred to as a sixth-penny tax, focused solely on providing water to the area would help start other aspects of development.

This tax initiative would support local jobs and work during an economic downturn. Considering how forward-thinking the proposal is, we think it would gain a lot of support from voters in both communities. It also perfectly matches the tax’s intended purpose of supporting infrastructure improvements.

However, we also think this proposal shouldn’t be tied to other pork-barrel initiatives floated by local governments, as voters may get turned off on supporting project.

Issuing a tax ballot question to voters in 2022 may give SEDC’s efforts a boost, helping reach a goal we can all get behind.