Voters to Decide Fate of Special Tax Tuesday

Johnson County voters will take to the polls Tuesday for a special election to decide whether or not to implement a special-use one-percent sales tax to benefit facilities in Buffalo, Kaycee and the county.

The proposed one-cent tax will, if approved, boost the sales tax rate in the county to 7%.

The proponents of the tax, namely the the “Citizens for Building the Future of Johnson County,” (CBFJC) have specified a number of facilities that are in need of upgrades or replacement and are looking for roughly $38 million, with $25 million going to projects and $13 million going to maintenance accounts for future upkeep on the facilities.

The projects include improvements at the fairgrounds, Jim Gatchell Museum, Buffalo Golf Course, Bomber Mountain Civic Center, Kaycee Library, Senior Center, YMCA, and building a recreation center in Buffalo.

Also part of the proposal is infrastructure in both Buffalo and Kaycee, and a maintenance savings account.

Opponents of the tax, the “Patriot Conservatives of Johnson County” (PCJC) argue the numbers claimed in the proposal are not accurate and that it will cost more than reported, and that there are alternatives to the tax which will not cost taxpayers nearly $50 million over 20 years.

Voters will have to decide the issue, but can review each entity’s arguments in their websites before heading to the polls Tuesday.

Polls will be open from 7am to 7pm on August 17^th.

We have provided links to both the Patriot Conservatives of Johnson County and the Citizens for Building the Future of Johnson County below.

Links:

http://jcwyopatriots.com/

http://citizensforjoco.com/