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(Fremont County, WY) – If you think that commercial air service is important in Fremont County, you must vote to renew the ½% Economic Development Sales Tax.
I have heard a variety of reasons as to why someone considers voting against this optional sales tax. I sympathize with the anti-tax sentiment that most of us have. I understand the frustration related to the direct grants to businesses across the county. But here is the basic, underlying argument: we will permanently lose our commercial air service without this tax.
No Wyoming commercial airport is unsubsidized. That’s right, even Jackson Hole’s airport receives money to operate flights. Last month, Central Wyoming Regional Airport in Riverton had more enplanements than in any month in the last 25 years. Fremont County has benefitted from local commercial air service for more than 50 years.
Over the last decade, we have struggled to ensure that the funding for our commercial air service was available. County and municipal monies have numerous obligations. Just before this tax was passed, those funding sources were shrunk and eliminated to the point of making commercial air service unfeasible. This tax is the lifeline that ensures our flying future can exist. If we cut ourselves off from a national transportation network, we cut our own throats and our economic future too.
To those of you who object on the ‘economic development grants’ argument, study up. FCAG took up this topic and reformed how those funds are to be used, cutting off funding for business grants, reallocating it to more air and ground transportation, including ambulance service. Your local leaders heard your objections and adjusted. Continuing to argue this objection is absurd, but if you are still upset, show up and participate. Make it better, rather than tearing it down. We get what we pay for.
Sincerely,
Mick Pryor
Hudson