Author photo

By KARLA POMEROY
Editor 

Nine entities express interest in general purpose sales tax

 

March 17, 2022



WORLAND — Nine separate entities have expressed interest in receiving funding from the general purpose one-cent sales tax if it is approved for renewal by voters in November.

During a meeting with the Washakie County Commissioners six of the seven entities currently receiving funding are seeking to continue to receive funds — City of Worland, Town of Ten Sleep, Ten Sleep Senior Center, Worland Senior Center, Crisis Prevention and Response Center and Worland Community Center Complex.

The Washakie County Fire Protection District No. 1/Worland Fire Department is receiving funding from the sales tax approved by voters in 2018. Worland Fire Chief Chris Kocher said at that time they told voters that they were seeking funding for one purpose, a new ladder truck and that they would not seek funding on the next ballot.

He said they may seek funding in the future but at this time they want to be true to their word so they will not be seeking funding from the tax if approved in November.

Additional entities hoping to receive revenue from the optional fifth cent are the Washakie County Historic Prevention Commission, Worland Youth Learning Center and Washakie Development Association.

Commissioner Terry Wolf said he will begin working on a draft for the online survey and will try to get a draft sent to the interested parties by the week of March 28.

A survey for those not wanting to go online will be published in the Northern Wyoming News and available at the various entities.

The survey will ask residents to rank each entity by order of importance 1-9. Surveys not completely filled out will be discarded as it will skew the results, Wolf said.

This is the same format the county used in 2018.

The survey will include information on what each entity plans to use the funds for if approved.

When asked if the county was going to be on the ballot for the optional general purpose tax, the commissioners said they had not decided.

They said they may include a question in the survey regarding what support voters might have for the county to fund the ambulance service through an additional half-cent sales tax.

Commissioner Aaron Anderson said he had spoken with Worland Mayor Jim Gill, Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Glanz and Public Works Superintendent Nick Kruger about the city possibly seeking a half-cent municipal tax for their street improvement. This would free up funds for the other entities on the tax.

The city council voted Monday night to remain on the general purpose optional one-cent sales tax.

See more on this discussion on the story on A12.

Anderson said the county could still seek to be included in the general purpose optional one-cent sales tax.

Anderson noted each entity will have to determine “what do you want and what can you live with as we may be looking at changing in percentages.”

Currently the City of Worland receives 42% of the one-cent sales tax, the Town of Ten Sleep receives 15%, each senior center receives 5%, the Worland Community Center receives 25%, Fire Department receives 6% and the Crisis Prevention and Response Center receives 2%.

The current tax is estimated to bring in a total of $4.2 million for the four years.

The current tax runs through June 2023. If approved by voters in November, the entities on this year’s ballot would begin receiving funding in August.

 
X
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024

Rendered 01/31/2024 14:28