(Riverton, WY) – The Riverton City Council has decided to allocate the rest of its half percent sales tax funding to support commercial air service at Central Wyoming Regional Airport.
They made the decision while considering a recommendation from Riverton’s economic development funding committee to allocate some of the money to the local entities that applied for grant awards in September.
“I’m completely supportive (of) these small businesses,” Councilmember Lindsey Cox said after motioning to award the rest of the city’s economic development funding to commercial air service. “(But) our airport is generating more economic development for our community than, unfortunately, any of these. … Looking to the future, we need to make sure that stays alive.”
Some council members said they still wanted to consider awarding some of the economic development money to the local organizations that were recommended for funding, but Cox’s motion passed 4-3 regardless.
Riverton’s economic development fund currently holds about $84,400 in half percent sales tax revenues, staff said, and the city anticipates receiving about $70,000 a month from the sales tax through May.
Councilmember Kyle Larson pointed out that the newly seated council that takes office in January could decide to spend the 2025 collections from the half percent sales tax differently.
City Administrator Kyle Butterfield agreed that was possible, but also noted that “the motion that was approved (was to) give all the remaining and future funds to the airport,” and “actions taken by this governing body can move forward into the future council that will be seated, so long as the future council is OK with it.”
For more information call the City of Riverton at (307) 856-2227.