Pilot Hill asks county to use SPAT funds to create $5M–$10M endowment for operations
August 19, 2025 | Albany County, Wyoming
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Pilot Hill Inc. asked the Albany County Board of Commissioners to consider carving specific-purpose (SPAT) tax revenue into a county-held trust to create an endowment for operations and maintenance at Pilot Hill. Sarah, representing Pilot Hill, told commissioners the group seeks a county contribution and would approach the City of Laramie with a matching request.
Sarah said Pilot Hill has completed 40 miles of trails and a trailhead project and is now seeking long-term operational funding rather than recurring annual fundraising. “We have over a thousand households in Albany County that contribute to Pilot Hill,” she said, but annual fundraising of $250,000–$300,000 is a “really big lift.” She described operating costs the trust would cover: a state lease payment of $41,418 annually, insurance of about $35,800, roughly one to 1.5 full‑time equivalent staff and trail maintenance estimated at about $4 per linear foot per year.
Sarah said the board is considering asking each jurisdiction (county and city) to contribute $5,000,000 to form an initial endowment and suggested a $10,000,000 total would be sufficient for long-term needs; she emphasized legal vetting with the county attorney would be required. “If for some reason in the future this community decides that Pilot Hill is no longer a viable need for the community, that money would stay within the county,” she said.
Commissioners discussed whether SPAT (the county’s specific-purpose excise tax) includes operational endowments, the legal permissibility of the proposal and the scale of the request. One commissioner said $10,000,000 would be the second-largest project on the county list and cautioned voters may not approve such a large carve‑out. Commissioner concern focused on: whether the request fits SPAT statutory/ballot language; the size relative to other needs; and the need to demonstrate conservation, recreation, and economic benefits. Sarah and commissioners noted the University of Wyoming had contributed $2,000,000 toward purchase and provides in-kind support; Sarah said discussions with the university foundation and Wyoming Community Foundation were ongoing.
No formal county decision was made. Commissioners asked staff to keep Pilot Hill on the list of potential SPAT projects for further discussion with the city and other stakeholders and to clarify legal, fiscal and ballot language issues before any final ask is placed before voters.
Sarah said Pilot Hill has completed 40 miles of trails and a trailhead project and is now seeking long-term operational funding rather than recurring annual fundraising. “We have over a thousand households in Albany County that contribute to Pilot Hill,” she said, but annual fundraising of $250,000–$300,000 is a “really big lift.” She described operating costs the trust would cover: a state lease payment of $41,418 annually, insurance of about $35,800, roughly one to 1.5 full‑time equivalent staff and trail maintenance estimated at about $4 per linear foot per year.
Sarah said the board is considering asking each jurisdiction (county and city) to contribute $5,000,000 to form an initial endowment and suggested a $10,000,000 total would be sufficient for long-term needs; she emphasized legal vetting with the county attorney would be required. “If for some reason in the future this community decides that Pilot Hill is no longer a viable need for the community, that money would stay within the county,” she said.
Commissioners discussed whether SPAT (the county’s specific-purpose excise tax) includes operational endowments, the legal permissibility of the proposal and the scale of the request. One commissioner said $10,000,000 would be the second-largest project on the county list and cautioned voters may not approve such a large carve‑out. Commissioner concern focused on: whether the request fits SPAT statutory/ballot language; the size relative to other needs; and the need to demonstrate conservation, recreation, and economic benefits. Sarah and commissioners noted the University of Wyoming had contributed $2,000,000 toward purchase and provides in-kind support; Sarah said discussions with the university foundation and Wyoming Community Foundation were ongoing.
No formal county decision was made. Commissioners asked staff to keep Pilot Hill on the list of potential SPAT projects for further discussion with the city and other stakeholders and to clarify legal, fiscal and ballot language issues before any final ask is placed before voters.
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