Laramie-area officials weigh 1% specific-purpose sales tax amounts and whether to hold special election in May or August

Laramie City Council, county commissioners and the Rock River Town Council met in a joint work session to review revenue forecasts and options for a proposed 1% specific-purpose sales tax and to discuss whether the tax question should appear on a special May or an August ballot.

The session centered on revenue scenarios prepared for officials and on the practical steps needed to put a question before voters. "If we have an election in May, it's gonna be a special election. It will be the only question on the ballot," said Kayla, the election staff member who presented the calendar and key statutory deadlines. Kayla also warned that ballot language and resolution approvals would need to be ready early in the calendar year if the council chooses a May special election.

Why it matters: the sales-tax question funds capital projects across multiple governments and could raise tens of millions of dollars. Different forecasting assumptions produced materially different totals and will shape how the city, county and Rock River prioritize streets, airport work and other infrastructure projects.

Most of the night's discussion concerned four forecast scenarios and the procedural choices they require. One scenario—described to the group as conservative, using a current median base with a 2.3% annual growth assumption—would produce roughly $86,000,000 over a 10-year term. A second conservative estimate that adjusts earlier-year averages and inflation produced about $89,000,000. An aggressive scenario that assumes recent high collections (including recent large energy-related receipts) continue would produce about $97,000,000. An option that simply adjusted the prior ballot amount for inflation produced roughly $84,000,000.

"The first forecast... total tax amount would be around $86,000,000," said Director Wade while presenting those scenarios and explaining the assumptions behind each path. He added that the most aggressive forecast is the least likely if large, temporary energy collections do not recur.

Officials and advisers also outlined financing options, including using the sales tax stream to support bond issues. Municipal adviser Todd, who spoke about bond strategies and precedent, said jurisdictions commonly include ballot language that allows general-obligation or other financing so cities or counties can issue debt upfront rather than wait years to accumulate cash. "You need to include the necessary language in your ballot question itself," Todd said, adding that issuing bonds can let governments begin projects sooner while the sales tax collections repay financing over time.

Several elected officials raised practical concerns. Election administration and outreach figured prominently: Kayla estimated an additional cost of roughly $15,000 to run a special election and noted statutory timelines for mailing absentee and sample ballots (she cited the statute as "22-6-105" for the sample-ballot timing). Officials also discussed the mechanics of when collections stop: staff estimated current collections would be fully remitted by roughly May 2026 under one scenario, but the Department of Revenue applies quarter-based timing that can extend the effective date for rate changes into the next quarter.

On timing, some councilors favored August because it allows more public outreach opportunities (farmers markets, other summer events) and avoids overloading clerk offices; others favored May to begin collections earlier and reduce the total time before projects can start. No final decision on election date or total ask was made.

What the bodies decided: participants agreed to hold a joint work session and follow-up special meeting on Monday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m. in Rock River to exchange project lists, begin negotiations across jurisdictions and set a target amount to use for prioritizing proposals. "Looks like September 15, Rock River at 6PM," said a council member confirming the date.

Next steps: staff were asked to circulate prior ballot language and past election statistics, assemble project lists and cost estimates for each jurisdiction, and return at the Sept. 15 meeting prepared to negotiate priorities and a draft ask amount. Officials indicated a working target in the $85 million–$90 million range could be a reasonable starting point for discussions, but emphasized that number was illustrative rather than final.

The session included extended discussion of process, statutory deadlines and voter-notification rules; no formal ballot language or final bond decisions were adopted at the meeting.