As leaders throughout Sweetwater County continue to move ahead with a 1% specific-purpose sales tax proposal for the 2022 ballot, Green River’s municipal government has submitted a list of all the capital projects it wants to accomplish.
Totaling more than $161 million, the project list is divided into streets and infrastructure projects and a miscellaneous list including facility improvements and expansions. The streets lists has a total estimated price of $51.59 million and includes work on several long-standing problem streets in the city, including Bridger Drive, River View Drive, Indian Hills Drive and Faith Drive.
The miscellaneous list, which is estimated to cost $109,680,000, consists of a list of proposals that have been goals for several years. These include $15 million to the renovation of the UP Depot building on Railroad Avenue, $18 million for downtown revitalization and a reconstruction of Flaming Gorge Way, $2 million to expand the splash park at Evers Park, $42.6 million to cover the base loan amount and additional funding for the proposed wastewater treatment plant and $6 million for recreation center improvements.
While the dollar amount of these projects eclipses other funding requests already submitted to the tax committee, the list won’t be the final project list the city submits for voter consideration. According to a memo submitted with the city’s list, the $161 million covers all known infrastructure needs within Green River. The city intends to submit a $40 million list with $30 million dedicated to infrastructure and streets. Selection of those projects won’t take place until after a public comment period gives city and county leaders a better idea of where residents want to see specific-purpose tax funds spent.
One of the main concerns about the sales tax proposal is if too much money is requested in November, voters will kill the proposal. While municipalities have focused on infrastructure work that could be funded through a potential sales tax, projects not dealing with basic infrastructure have also been submitted. the Rock Springs City Council added $9.8 million to its initial proposal list for various needs identified within its parks and recreation department and another $6.5 million towards renovation of the First Security Bank Building on Broadway. While the county is considering support for sewer projects in Reliance and Jamestown and work at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, it is also considering including potential projects at the Sweetwater County Events Complex.
“The amount of money on this tax is very concerning,” Commissioner Roy Lloyd said Tuesday.
He believes there are definite needs that can be addressed through a specific-purpose tax, but thinks it will fail if local governments overload the ballot with a wish list of projects. Lloyd believes only strict infrastructure projects dealing with roads, waterlines and the like will pass voter scrutiny in November.
“I don’t see it passing right now,” he said.
Commissioner Lauren Schoenfeld, who has been the county’s main representative on the specific-purpose tax committee, said what has been submitted by municipalities so far won’t be the final list for consideration if the tax question is presented to voters. Schoenfeld said community input is key to understanding what voters are willing to support and will be used to create a final list of projects. The county’s website has a page dedicated to the specific-purpose tax and Schoenfeld said surveys will be available to residents later this month. Community forums regarding the tax proposal are planned to take place in April and May, with recommendations to local governments by the tax committee planned to take place in early summer.
Reader Comments(0)