WORLAND – The Washakie County Commission facilitated a meeting on Tuesday with members currently covered under Joint Resolution 315, which splits one-cent sales tax funds, along with parties previously interested in becoming sales tax recipients, in light of the state's waning budget.

Previously, members of the Washakie County hospital board asked to be added to the recipients of the tax, explaining that they do not have the reserves to account for maintenance operations to the new hospital.

At Tuesday's meeting, Kip Mathison with the Washakie Medical Center Board of Directors requested that the hospital board be removed from consideration for the tax revenue, stating that the hospital didn't want to be a hindrance to the process, but stressing that the new facility was a $40 million asset to the community, and that future maintenance concerns would be approached when funding is needed.

Commissioner Aaron Anderson noted that "there is probably no more essential service [than the hospital], but maintenance would take a huge chunk of the 1 percent tax, and almost require a tax increase [in the future]."

Earlier in the day, members of the Washakie County Ambulance Service Committee met with Washakie County Commissioners to present recommendations to hire a full-time director, and to not transfer county emergency medical services to a private third party, as in surrounding counties. The service requested to not be included in Joint Resolution 315, as they felt their current general budget funding was sufficient.

Attendees included mayors, council members and senior centers staff from Worland and Ten Sleep, representatives from the Worland Community Center and the Washakie County Crisis and Prevention Center (all current recipients of sales tax funds). Others interested in exploring the option of becoming a sales tax recipient are the Washakie Development Association, Worland Youth Learning Center, Washakie County Youth Alternatives and Worland Fire Department (for replacement of 33-year-old Ladder One).

Voters most recently supported the general purpose optional one-cent tax in 2014 with 64 percent of Washakie County voters in favor.

The current tax will be collected through June 30, 2019.

The majority of the tax, 45 percent, goes to the city of Worland, 28 percent is distributed to the Worland Community Center Complex, 15 percent to the town of Ten Sleep.

In addition to the 4 percent sales tax the state levies, counties may impose up to 3 percent in additional general purpose, specific purpose and economic development taxes with voter approval, according to Wyoming Statute 39-15-204.

Currently 22 of Wyoming's 23 counties levy the general purpose tax. The only county not levying the general purpose tax is Sublette County.

The majority in attendance agreed that a mailed poll to voters would be a good idea, to see where funding priorities exist, before determining a final resolution, and before the Nov. 6 vote on continuing the tax.

According to a report by the Wyoming Department of Revenue, Washakie County collected $7,210,940 in sales tax revenue in 2015, $5,860,326 in 2016 and a total of $2,791,112 in fiscal year 2017. Currently the sales tax generates and average of $110,000 per month for the county, dependent on the economy.

Commission Chairman Terry Wolf scheduled the next meeting for Feb. 20 at 4:30 p.m., to designate a committee to finalize the tax proposal for the public vote. The commission noted that non-tax recipients are encouraged to attend and join the committee, and should contact Wolf at [email protected].

The Worland City Council Tuesday night appointed council member Mandy Horath as the council's representative on the committee with Dennis Koch as the alternate.

Wolf said while the county is not seeking funding from the general purpose one-cent sales tax, the county is facilitating the process for those interested.

Resolution 315 must be approved by August 27 to be included on the general election ballot in November.