Eight 6th-cent tax propositions on ballot

The City of Casper decided earlier this year to ask Natrona County commissioners to add eight sixth-cent tax propositions to the general election ballot.

But first, a recap: The city last summer tried and failed to extend the county's current one-cent tax indefinitely. Its primary shortcoming was that it did not receive adequate support from the other municipalities, and thus, the effort died before it could get to county commissioners for their approval. After discussions late last year and early this year, the city decided to move forward with requesting a sixth-cent tax to be put on November's ballot for their voters and their voters only.

The one-cent (or fifth-cent) tax adds another penny to the state's 4% sales tax. The sixth-cent tax would add another penny on top.

If passed, it would apply to everyone spending money within city limits.

It comes with a menu of propositions that voters can mark yes or no for individually. The city estimates that the tax would generate around $35 million to $36 million in the two years that it would be valid. If voters chose only a few projects from the list, and the full amount wasn't required to cover the costs of the projects they voted for, then the tax would cease after the money for those projects had been collected.

The propositions as they appear on the general election ballot are:

Proposition 1: Metro Animal Shelter

If this proposition is approved by voters, the city would rebuild Metro Animal Shelter for $7.3 million.

According to shelter manager Jodi Decker, changes will be from the ground up — it needs larger sewage pipes and the building has been shifting on its foundation over the years, leading to cracks in its walls and issues with the roof. The shelter also needs more than one HVAC system, so when animals get sick, germs don't filter through the whole building. The shelter's quarantine room, the only place where sick animals won't infect their feline or canine neighbors, doesn't actually get any airflow, she said. And Decker and her team would like to have more kennels with more space for animals to play outside.

"We are hoping that we can somehow get larger kennels," she said. "We're working on that. But it would be nice for our animals to actually have the space to thrive, rather than just exist here."

Proposition 2: Second sheet of ice at Casper Ice Arena

This proposition would add a second sheet of ice to the Casper Ice Arena. It would cost $5 million and would allow more space, better seating and more amenities for the community and for the city's several competitive groups that use it, said Chad Green, recreation supervisor for the ice arena. A second sheet would have an 800-person seating capacity and would essentially mirror the current sheet of ice connected by a mezzanine that would allow both arenas to be viewed at once. It would also have "locker rooms, bathrooms, concessions, offices, everything," Green said.

Proposition 3: New chairlift and lighting at Hogadon Basin Ski Area

For $4.2 million, the city would replace the current ski lift at Hogadon with a new quad capacity lift. According to Hogadon Superintendent Chris Smith, the current one was purchased in 1981. Because the lift is so old, he explained, the city has had difficulties finding parts for it. The maker of the original model, Riblet, has gone out of business.

"Our main concern is that it's aging out, and we're having difficulty purchasing parts, or even finding parts for it," Smith said.

A loading carpet would also be added to aid beginner recreators and those with disabilities, he added. Should the proposition be approved by voters, lighting would also be added to the Dreadnaught run.

Proposition 4: Fastpitch softball fields

This proposition would add two softball fields in Casper meant specifically for league competition or high school fastpitch softball. The two fields would cost $4 million for both. The city currently has softball fields, but they're not made for regulation fastpitch softball. Having regulation-appropriate fields would allow the city to host tournaments for the sport, thus boosting economic development, Parks and Recreation Director Zulima Lopez said.

Proposition 5: Fire Station #1 reconstruction efforts

It would cost around $4.4 million to partially fund costs associated with the replacement of the city's fire station #1, which sits at the corner of David and 1st streets. Fire Chief Jacob Black said that when the station was built in 1976, the city was getting fewer calls than it is now, and a new fire station will help them meet the needs of residents better. The construction also didn't consider a multi-gender workforce, he said, so there is little privacy.

"This funding will be the beginning of purchasing a lot of land, the engineering and design for a new fire station," Black said. "And by doing that, we're going to be able to secure a spot in this downtown core area to be able to meet our four-minute response needs." (The city's fire department aims to answer calls in four minutes or less.)

A new fire station would include appropriate bathrooms and personal areas for its firefighters and more space overall. The current station, Black explained, would become a hub for the city's training division and fire administration.

Proposition 6: 911 dispatch center technology replacement

This proposition would spend $5 million to replace the technology at the Casper-Natrona Public Safety Communication Center. The current equipment hasn't been replaced since 2014, Police Captain Jeremy Tremel said.

"What it does is it helps all the communities who support the public safety communications center, so they don't have to come up with the funds when technology needs are expected to be rotated," he said.

Proposition 7: Auxiliary gym addition for Casper Recreation Center

For $3.6 million, the city would build an auxiliary gym off of the Casper Recreation Center that would add another space for the programming that the center already does. The space would be multipurpose and have different options for flooring to suit different recreational needs, Nick Whipps, recreation manager, said.

Proposition 8: Washington Park bandshell preservation and reconstruction

The last item on your ballot regarding 6th-cent tax propositions is the bandshell at Washington Park. For $1.5 million, the structure — which was built in 1939 and last renovated in 2001 — would undergo improvements to make it less susceptible to stormwater drainage getting into its basement. The park itself has an area that is meant to be used as a "retention area support function for stormwater," Lopez said, but that water has seeped into where it shouldn't have. In addition, the roof of the bandshell needs to be replaced, and its technical functions need to be streamlined, too.

Adding ADA accessible pathways is also a priority. All in all, the entire structure would essentially be strengthened, and those things that have met their useful life would be replaced.

A new design for the bandshell would involve input from the community, Lopez added, as well as the groups that use it during the warmer months.

Jordan Smith covers Casper and its surrounding municipalities for the Casper Star-Tribune and can be reached at 307-266-0513, or on X Love Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

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