A series of discussions between school district officials and residents regarding the proposed closure of Jackson Elementary School Tuesday resulted in other options being brought to the table.
Many of those options, according to Superintendent Donna Little-Kaumo, aren’t great replacements. According to information presented to residents, other options that could make up $1.4 million the district would save by closing the Jackson building include killing the art, music and physical education programs across the school district, discontinuing all activities available at Green River High School, eliminating the district’s Central Office and cutting employees throughout the district.
However, the district’s funding woes could worsen should the Wyoming Legislature decide to initiate other cost saving measures, like increasing classroom sizes, which would also cut fulltime positions throughout the state.
One Jackson parent believes the cuts to education could be lessened if legislators would examine increasing taxes on alcohol and cigarettes.
Ciera Birch said if legislators brought excise taxes for beer, wine, cigarettes and distilled spirits in line with nearby states, the state would earn more revenue for education.
Wyoming’s taxes in those areas are amongst the lowest in the country. With liquors, the state taxes by volume and taxes 2 cents per gallon of beer, 28 cents per gallon of wine and 95 cents per gallon of spirits. For cigarettes, Wyoming charges amongst the lowest of the states at 60 cents per pack.
Those prices don’t include the 4 percent state sales tax or optional county sales taxes added when they’re purchased.
She believes if those taxes are increased to be closer with neighboring states, the state could have more money to spend towards education.
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