‘Clear and simple’: Fremont County, Riverton review draft distribution plan for proposed .75 percent sales tax

(Fremont County, WY) – Two local government entities got their first look at a draft agreement this week outlining how funds from a proposed three-quarter percent sales tax for economic development would be allocated to support the ambulance system, commercial air service, and public ground transportation in Fremont County.

If local voters approve the optional sales tax in August, the agreement notes that the resulting revenues will be collected by the Wyoming Department of Revenue, then distributed to Fremont County and its municipalities based on population. 

The local government entities would each place their portion of the sales tax proceeds in a “restricted fund” – ensuring that “no part of the tax shall be transferred to a party’s general fund for general operations,” the agreement states.

Then, each month, the local governments would send 54 percent of the money to the Fremont County Treasurer to support emergency medical services, while 31 percent would go to the City of Riverton for commercial air service, and 15 percent would go to the Fremont County Association of Governments for ground transportation.

‘Streamlined’

Riverton City Administrator Kyle Butterfield called the agreement “very streamlined.”

“It’s clear, and it’s simple,” he told the Fremont County Commission this week. “But it’s simple for a reason: When we’re asking our neighbors to tax themselves, we want to be as clear as possible with how the funds will be used.”

He also pointed out that all of the local government entities that sign the agreement would have to approve any future changes, modifications, revisions, or amendments to the document.

“I think (that’s) important,” Butterfield said. “This agreement can be amended, but only if it’s mutually agreed upon by all of the parties. … It can’t be a majority vote. It can’t be the vote of another entity – it is (all) of the governing bodies who are a party to this agreement.”

Commissioner Jenny Wilson said she appreciated that portion of the agreement, noting that she has heard concerns from constituents who were worried that the document “could just be changed willy-nilly by a majority vote.”

“I’m glad (that’s) not true,” Wilson said. “It has to be 100 percent. So I think that’s good.”

Later, Fremont County Clerk Julie Freese suggested adding a provision to the agreement requiring a 30-day public comment period before any changes are made, too.

That language would ensure that any proposed amendments “go out” to the public and that “people have time to review it,” Freese said. 

“That is a good point,” Commissioner Larry Allen said. “I think that’s a great idea.”

Riverton

The Riverton City Council incorporated Freese’s suggested change when approving the agreement during a meeting later that day.

The provision the council approved says any proposed amendments to the agreement “shall be subject to a minimum 30-day public comment period coordinated through the Fremont County Clerk’s Office.”

“Upon conclusion of the public comment period, the Fremont County Clerk shall compile and provide the results and comments received during the public feedback period to each party for consideration prior to any action on the proposed amendment,” the new provision states. “Following receipt and review of the public comments, the governing bodies of the party may consider approval of the proposed amendment in accordance with their respective procedures, including but not limited to a public hearing.”

Councilmember Karen Johnson voted against that modification – and the agreement as a whole – this week, expressing her concern about local sales tax revenues going to private entities like Frontier Ambulance that aren’t required to share financial information with the public.

The agreement will now go to Fremont County’s other municipalities for consideration before it returns to the Commission for final approval.