Town, county officials to mull sales-tax hike
By Cara Froedge, Jackson Hole, Wyo.
August 4, 2008
Elected officials are scheduled today to discuss a new 1-cent sales tax.
The Jackson Town Council and Teton County Board of Commissioners are expected to discuss the new tax during a joint meeting at 3 p.m. today in chambers at 200 S. Willow St.
In October both boards decided to wait to send the new tax to the ballot until after the state Legislature prepared its budget. They also wanted more information about how the tax would impact residents and how the revenues would be spent.
In 2007 the state Legislature authorized counties and towns to impose the additional 1-cent tax. Because it is a new tax and not a continuation of an existing tax, there must be an election.
Today, shoppers in Teton County are charged 6 cents on every dollar spent on goods other than groceries and exempt items like ski lift tickets and newspapers. The first, state-mandated 4 cents, of which the state takes a cut, generates about $13 million in local revenue annually. The fifth cent, an optional tax voters approved years ago, generates $10.3 million a year. The sixth cent also is voter-imposed and funds projects approved during the specific purpose excise tax election, held every few years.
In Teton Village, sales tax is 7 cents for every dollar. Voters approved an additional cent earlier this year to fund a parking lot project.
Officials have said the new tax could pay for free START bus service, increased fire and emergency medical services, more affordable homes and for a backlog of capital projects, estimated between $40 million and $60 million.
