One-cent tax survey results reviewed

WORLAND - The Washakie County Commission hosted a review of the results of a recent tax survey on Tuesday, to help determine the best use for the general purpose one-cent sales tax for 10 county entities eligible for the funding.

In total, 349 complete surveys were returned, with an additional 35 disqualified as being incomplete.

Representatives from the 10 entities seeking the tax, the City of Worland, the Town of Ten Sleep, the Worland and Ten Sleep senior centers, the Worland Community Center, Crisis Prevention and Response Center, Worland Fire Protection District No. 1, Worland Youth Learning Center, Washakie Development Authority and Washakie County Youth Alternatives, reviewed and approved the survey earlier this month.

By ranking, the City of Worland came in first with 111 votes for first place, followed by the Worland Senior Center for second, the Worland Community Center Complex for third, the Ten Sleep Senior Center for fourth, the Town of Ten Sleep for fifth, Worland Fire Protection District No. 1 for sixth, Crisis and Prevention Center for seventh, Worland Youth Learning Center for eighth, Washakie County Youth Alternatives for ninth and the Washakie Development Association for 10th, with 147 votes ranking the entity as least-required by county respondents.

Using a base estimate of $5 million to divide among the 10, Commission Chairman Terry Wolf suggested the entities go back to their boards and councils, and determine how they would like to go forward, based on the survey rankings.

"We don't expect to get finalized percentages [of tax revenue per entity] tonight, so think of it for the long term and come up with a best resolution going forward," advised Wolf. "You really need to be reasonable as far as what you need. It's important for people to see you working together, and your expenditures should stick to what's indicated in the resolution."

Wolf explained that the commission doesn't want to dictate the percentages, so it's important that the entities formulate percentages that minimize complicating the process.

A meeting date for Monday, April 16 at 5 p.m. was set for the entities to reconvene at the commission chambers to start determining which percentages are appropriate.

BACKGROUND

On Jan. 16, the commission originally facilitated a meeting with entities currently covered under Joint Resolution 315, which splits one-cent sales tax funds, along with new parties interested in becoming sales tax recipients, in light of the state's waning budget.

Voters supported the general purpose optional one-cent tax in 2014 with 64 percent of Washakie County voters in favor. The current tax will be collected through June 30, 2019.

Currently, the majority of the tax goes to the city of Worland, followed by the Worland Community Center Complex, town of Ten Sleep and then Worland and Ten Sleep senior citizen centers and Crisis Prevention and Response Center.

Voters in November will decide if the one-cent general purpose tax is continued. A resolution from the county and the Worland and Ten Sleep councils must be approved in August to get the tax question on the ballot.

According to a report by the Wyoming Department of Revenue, Washakie County collected $7,210,940 in sales tax revenue in 2015, $5,860,326 in 2016 and a total of $2,791,112 in fiscal year 2017.

Currently 21 of Wyoming's 23 counties levy the general purpose tax with Park and Sublette counties not levying the general purpose tax.

By statute the general purpose tax may be continued "if favorably supported by a resolution adopted by the governing body of the county and by ordinances adopted by the governing bodies of at least a majority of the incorporated municipalities within the county."

Big Horn County has continued the tax by resolution and ordinance. Washakie County has not considered that option, with Wolf previously stating that they prefer to bring the tax back before the voters every four years.

Eleven counties levy the specific purpose tax, including Hot Springs County, which was approved in 2016. Only one county, Goshen, levies the .25 percent tax for economic development.