Full Text
Voters will be asked on Nov. 8th to renew two taxes. What are these two taxes? 5th Penny Tax Who pays the bulk of this tax? Industry and Energy – Oil & Gas, Coal, Wind Farms How is it used and who benefits? The City of Douglas, Town of Glenrock, Town of Rolling Hills, Converse County government services and all citizens living and visiting these communities: • Street Improvements — Douglas: 2nd, 3rd & 5th Streets, Big Horn St, Mesa Dr, Oak St, Pearson St, S. Richards/Riverbend St, S. Wind River St • Equipment • Alley Improvements • Storm Sewer Improvements • Snow Removal • Chip & Slurry Seal Projects • Bridge Repair • County Road & Bridge Shop • Parks & Picnic Areas – Upgrades, Improvements, Equipment • Fitness Court • Natural Bridge • Glenrock Town Square • Pathway Improvements, Lighting & Warming Hut • Dog Park • Swimming Pool Upgrades & Maintenance • Cemetery Expansion & Roadway • Fire Vehicles • Law Enforcement Equipment • Douglas Railroad Museum & Visitor Center — Jackalope Junction Gift Shop – Promotes Products from Home-Based Businesses • Head Start Programs • School Resource Officer • Main Street Douglas (through the Enterprise) • Community Events through the Enterprise (Not promoted through Lodging Tax) — Annual Community Awards Banquet – Douglas — Jackalope Square Farmers Markets – Douglas — Citywide Trick or Treat – Douglas • Community Service Agreements — Boys & Girls Club of Central WY – Glenrock — Children’s Advocacy Project — Converse County Fair — Converse County Predatory Management — Converse Hope Center — Douglas Boys & Girls Club — Douglas Community Club Golf Course — Douglas Trap Club — Douglas Youth Hockey — Elevate Glenrock — Ft. Fetterman’s Sportsman’s Association — Glenrock Golf Course — Glenrock Recreation Center — High Country Behavioral Health — Human Resource Council — Kings Portion — Laramie Peak Humane Society — The Enterprise — WY Child & Family Development — WY State Fair — Youth Development Services — Youth Recreation Commission Lodging Tax Who pays the bulk of this tax? This tax is only paid by people staying in motels and campgrounds in Converse County. It IS NOT paid by homeowners, landowners, or renters. How is it used? The Converse County Tourism Promotion Board comprises people who live in Converse County. Recognizing that marketing is the most significant expense for large events, the receives funds from this lodging tax and accepts event and project marketing grant applications to market events to promote economic development in Converse County. Events and projects are awarded funds based on how they meet the criteria of encouraging out-of-town guests to attend the events and stay in our motels, dine in our restaurants, shop in our stores, and fuel up before returning home. Additionally, the recognizes that large, well- attended events improve the quality of life in Converse County, making it a great place to live and own a business. The funds the receives are divided up accordingly: • 10% Administrative costs off the top. Of the remaining: — 35% Douglas — 25% WY State Fair — 20% Glenrock — 20% Countywide Who benefits from this tax? Many public events in Douglas and Glenrock rely on these marketing dollars to ensure their success. Events and projects vary each year, but these annual events and projects consistently occur and are evaluated on their past performance to continue to receive marketing funds each year: Events • Christmas at the Depot - Douglas • Cowboy Christmas & Main Street Chili Cookoff – Douglas • Deer Creek Days – Glenrock • Glenrock Christmas Shop – Glenrock • Independence Day Celebration – Douglas • Jackalope Days – Douglas • Platte River Photography Show – Douglas • Sheepherder’s Rendezvous – Glenrock • WY State Fair Parade – Douglas Other • There were over 280,000 visits to the Tourism Board’s website in the last year, and over 30,000 visitors looked at the online business directory. • Douglas Railroad Museum & Visitor Center • Marketing in Railroad and other publications • Wyoming Pioneer Museum • Camp Douglas State Historic Site • Fort Fetterman State Historic Site • New signage at Ayres Natural Bridge Park • Deer Creek Museum • Glenrock Paleon Museum • Converse County Visitor Guides, with over 15,000 copies distributed annually • Table tents featuring area events and attractions • Placemats feature area events and attractions, and are designed to encourage people to stay in the area longer. • WY Travel & Tourism Guides • Jackalope Promotional Activities — Signage — Sticker Campaigns • Promotional videos • Facebook and Websites • Signage at State Fair Park to get visitors into the business districts These educational advertisements are funded by The Enterprise and the municipalities across Converse County.