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By KARLA POMEROY
Editor 

Tax provides most of revenue for community center

 

April 21, 2022

WORLAND - The Worland Community Center Complex receives 25% of the general purpose one-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2018.

WCCC Executive Director Steve Hunt in his letter to the Washakie County Commissioners notifying them of their intent to seek funding from the tax, the tax provides about 70% of their total revenue operating budget for one year.

"Operating a former middle school as a community center is extremely expensive especially during and after the COVID-19 epidemic. Utilities have skyrocketed this year, especially natural gas," Hunt wrote.

"Maintenance and repairs on our old building and grounds, as well as the senior center, is costly," he added.

Hunt said while they were closed in 2020 due to COVID they used the opportunity for some cleaning and maintenance.

Hunt said that most every resident of Washakie County uses the facilities in some way. He said they have all of their office space rented out. The Community Center rents space to the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Washakie County Extension, Worland Youth Learning Center, Northwest College, Kathy Smith for counseling services, Balloons Creations, Albert Vigil for karate class, Courtney Seghetti for dance class, Gail Garver Photography, gymnastics and the newest renter is Busy Bee Preschool this year.

He said their funding comes from rental space, lease agreements and the sales tax. "We get no funding from the commissioners or the city," Hunt said. While the funding goes into their general fund for operations, Hunt said "our finances are always open to the public."

"Every inch of space is used. It pretty much is the place for kids," Hunt said, noting that Worland Recreation utilizes the facilities for some of their programs.

He added that adults utilize it a lot as well, noting the walkers have come back strong recently after having been gone when the center was closed for the pandemic and through the statewide mask mandate.

Adult pickleball is also popular at the center.

"It's really something for everyone," he said.

The center is open six days a week. There is no charge to come into the center. Hunt said early on they discussed a membership fee but the board decided if they were operating under a tax then that was payment enough.

He said for the two years where the general purpose tax was not approved by voters they did have to adjust some fees, and hours of operation to absorb the loss of revenue.

"I hope people continue it. We have developed our niche in the community. We are open days and nights," Hunt said. He noted that they charge nominally for conferences, meetings, funerals, family gatherings and other group meetings.

"As long as the tax is there we can do that (keep it affordable)," Hunt said.

The community center is definitely an asset to the community and we want to be here ... we want to be available," Hunt said, noting that voters in the past two elections have provided strong support for the tax.

 
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