A group of local municipal leaders across Wyoming recently discussed a proposal that would create new tax districts in Lincoln County for the effort of passing a 6th penny tax in certain communities.

Kemmerer City Administrator recently spoke with SVI Radio from the Wyoming Association of Municipalities conference, where the proposal was introduced.  Muir stated that the new tax districts would allow communities such as Kemmerer and Diamondville to join together on a 6th penny tax vote without needing the vote to pass county wide.

What the boundaries for the tax districts would be are still in discussion, but Muir said they could follow current boundaries such as school or hospital districts.

The proposal will now be discussed with local law makers in an effort to draft a bill to propose to the full legislative body.

A 6th penny tax failed at the ballot last November in Lincoln County.  It was supported by the majority of voters in south Lincoln County, but not by voters in north Lincoln County.  Had it passed, funds raised would have been used for infrastructure projects such as road improvements.

This morning Duke & Dahl asked SVI Radio listeners if they are support or appose the idea of new tax districts to give certain communities a 6th penny tax option without full county support.  Below are their responses.

In Favor

“Brilliant idea!! They should’ve started that process a long time ago!”

“Yes to 6% tax! Potholes try to swallow my Volkswagen daily!”

“I think it’s a great idea. Star Valley doesn’t want to pay for things in Opal and Kemmerer and then Kemmerer doesn’t have to resent Star Valley for holding back their plans.”

“I saw it work really well in Sweetwater County. They got a lot of infrastructure improvements much faster with the tax. Tourism paid for about 30 percent of it.”

“Sure! Makes sense logically.”

“Yes it allows communities to make their own decisions how to solve their own issues without encompassing others.”

“I think the six penny tax is a great idea! I’m so happy they found a way to make it happen!”

“Yes . I like the idea of split.  Lincoln county is a very long & needs different levels . Glad this is available.”

Apposed

“Tax districts could be helpful for communities if they have enough area and businesses to make it work. Small towns would not be helped by this proposal and we have several in our county and many across the state.”

“No, no, no! I am opposed to additional tax districts. That’s not the issue at play with the sixth penny question in Lincoln County. I support a county wide sixth penny sales tax. I am also in support of a county wide lodging tax. As the saying goes: “United we stand.” The absolute very last thing we need in Lincoln County is more division and fracturing. We need to come together and make decisions that move Lincoln County forward. Additional tax districts would only divide us more. No!”

“I’m against the split. I’m with the one caller that was texting and and I think that we would be dividing and I think we would run into problems. I’m with the one caller. I do think that it would divide us. So I’m with sticking together and that is my feeling.”