Sweetwater County commissioners certify quarter-mill conservation district levy for Nov. 3 ballot

The Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners unanimously certified a ballot question July 15 asking voters whether to approve a one-quarter mill levy for the Sweetwater County Conservation District at the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Tom Burris, representing the Sweetwater County Conservation District, told commissioners the petition and supporting paperwork were submitted last week and that the district is asking for a quarter-mill levy for a four-year term to stabilize funding. “We’re trying to find the money for us to operate, and it will enable us to do substantially more activity with residents of the county,” Burris said, and he described the amount as a modest request compared with a previous full-mill ask years ago.

Burris gave a ballpark estimate of revenue and taxpayer impact, saying a full mill on county property would generate roughly $500,000 and that a quarter mill would be proportionally smaller — “about $4 on a $250,000 house,” he said — and emphasized that the district would use the revenue to expand projects across rural and municipal areas of Sweetwater County.

Commissioners voiced support during the short special meeting. One commissioner praised the district for seeking direct voter funding and called the quarter-mill request a restrained, appropriate step to take pressure off the county budget. Another commissioner asked about the district’s plans for outreach and procurement; Burris said the district posted a procurement solicitation, received about a dozen vendor proposals and planned to meet in the coming week to select an advertising/outreach vendor.

The resolution, identified in the meeting record as Resolution 2026-07-CC-05, includes ballot language that would ask: “Shall the Board of County Commissioners of Sweetwater County impose a conservation district mill levy of up to one-quarter mill on all property within Sweetwater County Conservation District to support natural resource and soil and water conservation programs pursuant to the Wyoming conservation district statutes?” The resolution also directs that, if approved, the question be submitted every four years thereafter until defeated, consistent with the statutes read into the record.

Board members moved to approve the resolution, the motion was seconded, and the chair called for the vote; the board recorded the motion as approved unanimously. A staff member said the board would sign the certification and submit it to Clerk Swenson, who will provide public notice and election processing steps. Burris asked commissioners to help raise public awareness through local media and outreach.

The special meeting was convened to meet statutory filing deadlines after the district filed its petition; commissioners said the ultimate decision rests with voters at the ballot. With no further business, the chair adjourned the meeting.