The Fremont County Association of Governments voted 5-2 this week to officially adopt a modified distribution agreement for funds generated through the local half percent sales tax for economic development.
The new agreement – which increases the amount of funding going toward air and ground transportation and creates a new allocation to support the county ambulance service – will only take effect if voters approve the sales tax option again this fall.
Survey results
Kevin Kershisnik with Forward Fremont County said the change that was approved this week should alleviate the concerns of residents who expressed disapproval about the portion of economic development funding going to local governments for distribution.
FCAG circulated a survey last month asking residents to share their opinions about the current funding model, and Kershisnik said more than 51 percent of the 677 respondents had a negative perception about the projects local government selected to receive financial support from the economic development tax.
By contrast, 80 percent of respondents agreed that ground transportation and air transportation “are important to Fremont County and to the citizens (and) should be funded,” he said, and almost 72 percent agreed that “ambulance service (is) important to our community and should … be partially funded by this sales tax.”
Only 53 percent of survey respondents said they’re currently in favor of renewing the tax, Kershisnik added – but organizers believe the new distribution agreement will encourage more people to support the ballot measure this fall.
5-2 vote
This week’s FCAG vote reflected the will of the governing bodies represented on the board, Kershisnik noted.
Two of those governing bodies – the Dubois Town Council and the Fremont County Commission – had previously voted against the change to the distribution agreement, so their FCAG representatives voted “no” when the question arose this week.
