A resolution to put a 1% specific purpose tax on the ballot in the upcoming general election was passed by the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners and the Green River and Rock Springs City Councils.
The commissioners voted 3-1 to approve the resolution with the contingency that both the cities of Rock Springs and Green River also approve the resolution during their Tuesday meeting. Commission Chairman Jeff Smith was absent for Tuesday’s meeting and so did not vote.
On Tuesday night, the Green River City Council unanimously approved the resolution and the Rock Springs City Council voted 6-3 to approve it.
The town of Wamsutter has also approved the resolution, and the other towns are set to consider the resolution in the near future. It must be approved before July 20 to go on the ballot for the Nov. 8 general election.
The resolution proposes a total amount of $83,511,570 to be raised by the specific purpose tax. Of that amount, $22 million will go to Green River and $35 million will go to Rock Springs, as well as $2.3 million to Bairoil, $1.3 million to Granger, $4.4 million to Wamsutter and $16.3 million to the Jamestown and North Rock Springs sewer districts.
The specific projects for each municipality are included in the resolution, which can be found on the county’s website.
The total amount for all the projects was kept under $80 million, but the cost of bonding was factored in for the resolution, bringing it up to the presented $83.5 million, according to Commissioner Lauren Schoenfeld.
The commissioners discussed whether or not to approve the resolution before seeing what the other municipalities would do, particularly Rock Springs and Green River, which is why Schoenfeld proposed passing the resolution with the contingency that both cities must also pass it.
Commissioner Roy Lloyd was the only commissioner to vote against the resolution, saying he sees the need for the projects but he hasn’t heard much public support for the tax expressed, and he worries if it fails the same way last year’s general purpose tax failed, it may be hard to ever pass it again.
Rock Springs Councilman Keaton West expressed similar concerns.
“My fear, like I’ve stated all along, is that if it gets voted down again it’s probably toast,” West said.
West voted against the resolution, along with Rock Springs Council members Brent Bettolo and Rob Zotti.
Zotti added he sees the need for the tax but is concerned there is not enough of a plan in place for informing the public about the uses for the tax and the difference between the special purpose tax and a general purpose tax.
Among those who supported the tax and voted to approve the resolution, Commissioner Randy Wendling, Green River Councilwoman Sherry Bushman, and Rock Springs Mayor Tim Kaumo all emphasized the resolution simply puts the tax question on the ballot and gives the decision to the voters.
“It is the people’s choice to vote,” Bushman said. “If we keep anything off the ballot, then everyone loses out. It’s your choice.”
Reader Comments(0)