News
Senior Citizen Service District to be Placed on Ballot
The question of whether or not to form a Senior Citizen Service District will be sent before Sheridan County voters to decide.
Discussions were had between the Sheridan County Commission and the public concerning the issue, with Bryn Stewart, President of the Board of Directors with the Hub on Smith, explained why they were in favor of a new district being formed.
Stewart further explained that there are two ways to get a ballot measure in front of voters. One is to gather signatures on a petition, and the other is by a decision by the county commission.
Public comments included concerns over an increased burden on county taxpayers should the district be formed, with others in favor of the services the Hub provides and putting the initiative before the voters to decide.
The commission approved on a split vote to submit the proposition for the district to the county clerk to be placed on the ballot for voters to decide, with Commissioners Mike Arzy and Holly Jennings voting against.
Jeff Wells
December 11, 2025 at 4:35 pm
Of course Jennings and Arzy voted against it. They are against anything that is beneficial to the community without reservation. They don’t even know how to vote but in opposition to the community and their interests.
Dennis Fox
December 12, 2025 at 11:39 pm
Higher taxes are NOT “beneficial” to the community. Most people in Sheridan are screaming about high taxes and only a few elected officials are doing something about it.
Voting to stop another private entity from illegally bellying up to the tax-payer-supplied feeding trough, is commendable.
The vast majority of citizens stand in opposition to high taxes and in 2026 we will all vote to lower them and stop adding special districts to increase the tax burden.
Lower Taxes Are Better.
Allyson Harvey
December 14, 2025 at 7:38 pm
The Hub on Smith is a non-profit entity. It is legally structured to operate for the public’s benefit and collective good, not private profit.
Are the elderly not worthy of our care?
Taxes pay for education, public safety (police, fire), infrastructure, libraries,hospitals, etc… Services we all rely on every day.
Dennis Fox
December 15, 2025 at 3:18 pm
The Hub is a Private entity and is forbidden from getting tax dollars, according to the Wyo constitution. It doesn’t matter if the Private Entity is for profit or not.
Keep in mind. All taxes are collected by force. Therefore we should limit tax dollars to funding only necessities, such as: police, courts and basic infrastructure.
Everything else can, should and will be funded by voluntary means.
Of course our seniors are “worthy of care.” But we shouldn’t force every property owner in Sheridan County to bear the burden of funding the Hub.
Funding methods and responsibilities for seniors are: First, seniors themselves (by planning for retirement) then family, friends, churches, voluntary charities, community foundations…etc. There are are dozens of voluntary funding methods that will work.
Forced taxation should NEVER be used for Private entities. Never!
The proposed ballot measure is like the Hub asking the Gov’t to put a gun to the head of every property owner in Sheridan county and demanding “Pay up for Granny.”
I know my granny would never have approved such Theft!
BTW, since the tax will only be levied against Property Owners, then only Property Owners will be allowed to vote on it, Right?
Dennis Fox
December 12, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Of course our two “Tax-Payer-Defending” commissioners voted Against Higher Taxes. They were absolutely right to do so and should be applauded for their continued support of lower taxes.
And that wasn’t even the real question before the board. The question was, “Should the Hub be required to gather petition signatures to put it on the ballot, or just convince three commissioners to “place it on the ballot.”
The vote was 3 to 2 to do it the easy way. Had just one of the 3 liberals voted to gather signatures, then that’s what they would have forced the Hub to do.
So, as usual, just one, single commissioner voted to make the pathway to higher taxes easier.
BTW, the Hub is a private entity and should not be receiving ANY tax dollars, as per the Wyoming Constitution. Period.
Why did the Hub director want to make every property-tax-payer in Sheridan county fund his organization?
Because it’s easier to have the gov’t force money out of people’s pockets, than to “ask” for donations.
Looking forward to the public outcry on this tax hike.
And defeating higher taxes, just by voting.
Lower Taxes Are Better!
Dennis Fox
December 16, 2025 at 10:23 pm
So if just one commissioner had voted “against” the easy way to the ballot, then the Hub would have had to do it the legitimate way and collect signatures.
So not only will the Hub not make the effort to “ask” for donations, (preferring to use gov’t “Forced-taxation” instead) they won’t even bother to go door-to-door and ask people if they want to vote on the issue of putting it on the ballot.
It’s on the ballot thanks to that one commissioner and the path to higher taxes is now even easier.
Guess the Hub owes those 1-3 liberal commissioners a great big…..kic…..thank-you.
Dennis Fox
December 18, 2025 at 11:05 pm
Taking money from people’s pockets (thru forced-taxation) causes resistance and resentment.
The Hub can expect many people to fight them on raising property taxes. We’re already taxed to the Max. Folks will reduce their own voluntary donations, out of anger and resentment. Also, expect folks to justify their reduced giving, by saying “well the gov’t is supporting them now thru taxes, so why should we bother to write them an additional check.”
Best course of action would be for the Hub to withdraw it’s ballot request before any more damage is done to their reputation/brand.
They do good work. But they were ill-advised to try to get on the forced-taxation gravy-train.
No good can come of it, in the long run.
There’s no such thing as “easy money” or a “free lunch.”
America is 38 trillion dollars in debt!
Dennis Fox
December 26, 2025 at 11:37 pm
Since this issue concerns raising Property Taxes, Only Property Owners should be allowed to vote on it!