The debate and discussion with regards to the continuation of the one cent, fifth penny, general excise tax in Lincoln County continues this week. Ordinances in relation to the sales tax have been discussed by each of the municipalities in Star Valley this month.

Tuesday, Jan. 12 the Town of Star Valley Ranch passed an ordinance in support of the fifth penny on third reading, making it the third municipality in the county to do so. Kemmerer and Diamondville have already adopted fifth penny ordinances.
The towns of Thayne and Alpine are working on fifth penny ordinances. The ordinances in those towns relating to the fifth penny will be up for second reading this month.

The Town of Afton will host a public hearing with regards to the fifth penny sales tax at the Feb. 9, 2010 council meeting. The hearing will begin at 5 p.m. on that date. Afton discussed continuation of the fifth penny sales tax in its December and January council meetings.

The towns of Opal, Cokeville and LaBarge each have fifth penny sales tax ordinances in the works. However, none of those ordinances have made it through the governmental process and been adopted yet.

According to state statute, if the majority of municipalities in Lincoln County adopt ordinances in support of the continuation of the fifth penny sales tax, and the county passes a resolution in support of the continuation of the tax, the tax will become continuous.

Currently the fifth penny sales tax question appears on the ballot during general elections.

According to state law, if  the tax becomes continuous, the electorate can have the tax put back on the ballot by petition.
For more information on the fifth penny sales tax, contact County Treasurer Jerry Greenfield at 877-2040.