• Voters county wide will approve or reject
At the request of local municipalities, the Lincoln County Commissioners have approved a resolution to add a 1% special purpose sales and use tax, also known as the 6th penny, onto the ballot for this November’s General Election. If passed by voters, the funds raised by the tax will be given to each municipality in the county to use for specific needs and projects. Roughly $23.4 million would be generated by the tax to fund the projects, with the tax sunsetting once the funds have been met.
“What it really comes down to is each of the municipalities put their heads together and said what projects they want to work on,” said Lincoln County Commissioner Jerry Hansen. “They put forth a resolution and representatives from those municipalities came to the commissioners and said ‘Would you please pass a resolution so that this gets placed on the ballot.’ This is an opportunity for the voters to look at and to analyze what they want for development and for opportunities for improvements within their communities.”
Each incorporated town would receive a portion of the funds, allocated for specific projects and needs that have already been predetermined.
“The special purpose tax is a very unique tax that allows 100% of the tax collected to stay within the community.” said Thayne Mayor Devin Simpson. “The mayors of the communities in Lincoln County have each identified specific projects we would love our citizens to have in our community, and these projects are how the funds will be used. The best part about this tax is that it is ultimately up to the residents whether they want to support these projects or not.”
“The Town of Thayne recognizes the need to have more recreational activities during the long winter months and we have identified an indoor recreation facility as our project we would love to provide,” Simpson continued. “We have designed a facility that will have two indoor soccer fields, six indoor pickleball courts, a kid’s playground area, and an administrative office. We will be able to play volleyball and basketball in the facility as well. We believe this project will support the entire community.
“We recognize that any increase in our taxes is hard, but most of us are accustomed to paying 6% sales tax or more if we shop in Idaho or Utah. We would ask the residents of Lincoln County to consider these projects and look to the future as we try to do what is best for the residents.”
Star Valley Ranch Mayor Kathleen Buyers also submitted a comment to SVI News, stating “In Wyoming most of the tax is controlled by the state. The Special Purpose Excise Tax (SPET) or 6th Penny will be on the ballot in November. The SPET is the one way that we have an opportunity to increase public funding opportunities for special projects. This tax is temporary and most individuals who pay this tax are non-residents. The Town of Star Valley Ranch has chosen major arterial roads for paving and walking paths next to some busy roads. The Town Council understands this is not the most glamorous project, but we are in desperate need of improved main roads. Funding for rural roads is not available to our town through any other source and because of the lack of funding for roads we ask you to vote yes in November for the Special Purpose Excise Tax. Remember it is temporary.”
Similar proposals for a 6th Penny tax have appeared on the ballot in recent elections. However, the proposals failed, having been voted down by the majority of county residents. Wyoming currently has a 4% automatic sales tax with an option for 5% county by county. Currently Park and Sublette counties are the only two in the state at 4%. Sales tax revenue is allocated to the state, county and local municipalities. The state does allow for counties to enact a temporary extra percent on sales taxes, known as the 6th penny. These taxes can be used to fund special projects or needs. The tax needs to be enacted by a popular vote and must include a sunset or end date once the needed funds are met.
Below is a complete list of the proposed projects for each municipality in the county and how they plan to use the funds should the special use tax be passed by voters.
Afton: $4,000,000 for Canyon View Park improvements to include a new bathroom, pickleball courts and an all abilities outdoor playground.
Thayne: $3,100,000 for an indoor sports complex to include pickleball courts, soccer fields, office, kids play area and other recreation facilities.
Star Valley Ranch: $3,300,000 for walking paths that lead to forest trails, development of Town commons and pavement of major arterial roads within the town.
Alpine: $1,665,000 for the Palisades Riverwalk Feasibility and Design Project, Alpine Greenbelt Pathway Design and Construction Project and Alpine Civic Center Backup Power Project.
Cokeville: $2,833,727 to repave West Main Street and Collete Street, build a new ADA-accessible bathroom for Town Park, and replace the Main Water Line east from Highway 30 two well number 3 and the water line from Main Street north along HIghway 30 to city limits.
Diamondville: $1,155,175 for road resurface, repairs and road improvements along with replacing a truck sander for winter maintenance.
Kemmerer: $4,483,238 for several road repair and maintenance projects and reinforcing a retaining wall with block facing on Sage Ave.
LaBarge: $1,647,938 for backup generators for city buildings and infrastructure, replacement of non-compliant air masks for the fire department and a new fire engine to replace a portable rink for summer/winter entertainment.
Opal: $169,000 for backup power for the water system and Town Hall.
