(Lander, WY) – The Lander City Council asked its economic development committee to suspend its grant distribution process this week in light of the recent failure of the optional half percent sales tax that funded the local program.
Councilmember Missy White recommended the suspension during a regular meeting Tuesday, suggesting that the rest of the income the city has, or will receive, from the optional sales tax should go to commercial air service and ground transportation instead.
“(Those) two services … would benefit from having those funds distributed to them while they figure out a long-term, more permanent funding mechanism,” White said.
Councilmember Julia Stuble expressed support for White’s proposal and asked that the item be placed on a future council meeting agenda.
City Treasurer Charri Lara pointed out that Lander’s economic development committee was planning to hold a “pitch night” Nov. 19 for the three entities that have already applied for funding this quarter.
“So if you are going to suspend it, it would be nice to know tonight, so that we’re not wasting the applicants’ time or (the) committee members’ time,” Lara said.
Stuble and White both suggested postponing the pitch night until the council has a chance to discuss the situation further – but on Thursday Lara told County 10 that the event would be held as scheduled Nov. 19.
“(The committee will) hear from the three applications and score them and give them to council,” she said. “The council then can make the decision whether or not to fund them.”
Lander’s half percent sales tax fund currently holds more than $500,000, Lara said, and it receives around $76,000 per month in revenue.
For more information call the City of Lander at (307) 332-2870.