GUERNSEY—Platte County voters have some big decisions to make in the upcoming primary election slated for Aug. 21.
Voters will be asked to approve a special use excise tax to fund any or all of three propositions that include a variety of projects to be completed in Platte County.  
Voters approved such a tax in 2008 to fund projects in all five of the county’s communities, including the swimming pool in Guernsey, street reconstruction in Chugwater, renovations and upgrades to public buildings in Glendo and Hartville, and Wheatland’s fire hall. The $5.4 million was paid off in 3.9 years.
In 2012, Platte County voters approved two propositions that provided $12 million to fund the Platte County Legacy Home, the county’s new nursing home facility in Wheatland, and an additional $1,610,250 for infrastructure improvements in the remaining four communities in the county. Those funds were fully paid back in just a little over six years.     
A specific purpose excise tax is a sales tax, assessed to anyone, regardless of residency, who purchases goods or services within the county. It is collected until the total debt is retired. A SPET must be a stated amount with a specific purpose and approved by the voters. It is a 1 cent tax per dollar spent added to the sales tax collected on any taxable purchases made within the county. Monies from a SPET cannot be used for ordinary operations of a local government. They are most often used for funding substantial infrastructure projects that incur costs beyond what a local government’s normal budget can provide. It is authorized through Wyoming State Statute 39-15-204 (iii).
This year, voters will be considering three propositions to be paid through a SPET. Proposition 1, requested by Platte County, would pay for phase one of a remodel project on the Platte County Courthouse. Total funding needed is $4.875 million.  
Proposition 2 is requested by the Platte County Fair Board and would provide a renovation of the Platte County 4-H Building. Cost for this proposition is $4.72 million.
Proposition 3 includes a specific project for each community in the county. Chugwater is requesting $802,000 for street reconstruction and repairs and the purchase of a multi-use tractor.  
Glendo is seeking $413,000 for the planning, design, construction and renovations to convert the old town shop into a community center providing more meeting space and a full kitchen. Potential uses include senior citizens’ events, educational classes and receptions.   
Guernsey’s project, requiring $2.95 million, would be upgrades to the town’s water system, including refurbishing the water tank and pipelines and installing a dedicated water line with chlorination to provide safe drinking water and comply with DEQ regulations.

Hartville would also see an upgrade to its water pipeline, improvements to the cemetery, documenting gravesite locations in the Boot Hill section, improvements to the firehouse and town shop building for additional equipment storage, and the purchase of equipment. Hartville requests $336,000.  
Wheatland’s projects, with a price tag of $2,531,100, include the planning, design and construction for upgrades to the town’s electrical system to carry increasing load demands; repairs to the leaks in the wastewater lagoon linings; and repairs to the Black Mountain water tower.
Total cost for Proposition 3 is $7,032,800.  
Taxpayers may approve one, two or all three of the propositions in the August election.  The total if all three were approved comes to $16,627,800. Projected payback for all three propositions is 7.5 years based on current collection rates.  
Advantages of a SPET include the fact that the tax is considered a “fair” tax, collected from anyone including nonresidents, taking the total burden of the expense off of just the county taxpayers. The tax is exactly what it says — for a “specific use” and, once paid for, is no longer assessed. A SPET does not increase property taxes and does not tie up the county’s government funds. A full 1 cent on each dollar spent is collected and used toward retirement of the debt until paid.  
The only downside of a SPET is the additional cost added to an item when purchased.
Proponents of the SPET point out that it can substantially reduce the amount of time needed to pay off a large project and reduce the amount of interest paid on the debt.
For example, in 2001, the county issued public bonds to pay for the Platte County Public Safety Center (new jail facility). The building cost was $5 million and annual payments to the bond holders began in 2001. The final payment is set to be made in 2020. Total cost of the project came to $9.22 million, which included interest of $4.22 million. The average annual payment made by the county was $465,000.  
Comparatively, the 2008 SPET projects came to a total of $6.54 million ($5.4 project cost and $1.14 million interest). Collections began in March 2009 and the tax was paid back in full in January 2013, a total of 47 months.
To vote in the Aug. 21 primary, which will also include candidates for a variety of state-level offices, you must be a registered voter. A registered voter must meet the following qualifications:  
Be at least 18 years of age.
Be a U.S citizen.
Withdraw voter registration from any other jurisdiction, if applicable.
Present a valid Wyoming driver’s license if you possess one; if not, provide the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you have neither, indicate such on the voter registration application form.
Cannot be convicted of a felony or, if convicted, have had civil or voting rights restored.
Cannot be adjudicated mentally incompetent.  
Voters do not need to re-register to vote in the general election if they voted in the last general election. You must re-register if you have moved to a different county, or you did not vote in the last general election. If you moved within the county to another precinct or changed your name, you must notify the county clerk.
Registration for voters is administered by the county clerk’s office. You may register to vote in person, by mail or at the polls on Election Day.
Additional election information and forms are available on the state’s website at:
soswy.state.wy.us/elections