Tax ballot to continue unchanged

The sixth-penny general purpose tax election will continue as is.

The Sweetwater County Commissioners initially planned a discussion for amendments, alternatives or a rescission of the ballot question during their Tuesday meeting. However, after an executive session regarding the special election prior to the discussion, the commissioners voiced their support for the election and the need for a 1% general purpose tax, then voted unanimously to provide information to residents about the tax.

Executive sessions are meetings that are closed to the public to discuss sensitive matters such as land purchases, employee issues, and subjects related to litigation or potential litigation. This type of discussion is supported by Wyoming statutes, but only for specific topics. Chairman Randy Wendling said the session was focused on the legalities surrounding the general purpose tax election after the commissioners entered back into the public session.

Votes have already been cast in the election and it’s uncertain what would happen if the commissioners opted to amend the ballot after receiving those votes or decided to cancel the special election outright.

“There’s no way to back up the car on this,” Commissioner Roy Lloyd said.

The commissioners affirmed the need for a general purpose tax to help fund ambulance services.

“That’s the vast majority of it,” Commissioner Jeffery Smith said.

Commissioner Lauren Schoenfeld said the commissioners are committed to keeping the general purpose tax for only three years and sharing clear information about the needs the county and other cities have that necessitate the tax.

Revenue to the county’s municipal governments and the county itself has declined in recent years, with sales tax revenue for Green River declining to levels seen in 2003 and 2004. This is coupled with higher costs seen in public works projects and other services that have caused local governments to start seeking additional funding sources. One of those sources previously utilized is a specific purpose tax, the most recent of which was approved by voters in 2012.

The specific purpose tax can only be used for purposes approved by voters and for the amounts needed to fulfill those purposes, meaning the tax has a built-in sunset date.

The 2012 specific purpose tax was focused mostly on capital projects such as road maintenance and infrastructure improvement, though voters also allowed its use to support renovations at Mission at Castle Rock when it was operated by Castle Rock Hospital District, the construction of Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County’s Medical Office Building, and new ambulances for Castle Rock Ambulance Service.

While the special election asks voters if they would support a general purpose sales tax, discussions are also occurring to bring a specific-purpose sales tax to voters in 2022.

Opponents to the current ballot question believe the general purpose sales tax could jeopardize a 2022 specific purpose sales tax.

The Sweetwater GOP issued a statement Sept. 12 opposing the tax question, citing the threat it potentially poses to a future specific purpose sales tax.

“The party feels that raising the general purpose sales tax to 6% will greatly diminish the appetite to support the specific purpose tax proposition in 2022,” the statement reads.