Specific Purpose Sales and Use Tax
Below are the eight (8) City of Casper
Specific Purpose Sales and Use Tax Propositions.
Proposition 1
$7,300,000 and interest earned thereon to the City of Casper to reconstruct the aging, failing, and undersized Metro Animal Shelter to better provide for animal health and safety.
Why this project is being proposed
The current animal shelter was built 40 years ago with One Cent funds. It is now too small for the number of animals it needs to care for, making it hard to take care of the animals, and it constantly needs repairs. The shelter was built with special doors to safely move dogs between kennels when cleaning. But right now, the shelter built for no more than 30 dogs often has 50 or more dogs, making it hard to use this system properly. This overcrowding also causes problems with the heating, air conditioning, and sewer system. The air doesn’t circulate well enough to keep the animals and staff healthy, and the sewer pipes often get clogged because they’re too small. The area where animals are brought into the shelter is too small to safely unload them. The garage door can’t be closed while bringing animals in, which could lead to an animal escaping. A new shelter would fix all these problems by providing more space, safer ways of moving and caring for the animals, and a safer area for bringing in new animals.
Each year, the shelter responds to 2-3 large hoarding cases, which can involve the intake of 12 to 60 animals at a time. Managed by the Casper Police Department, the Metro Animal Shelter handles up to 6,000 calls for service annually and takes in about 2,300 animals each year. In 2023 alone, the shelter took in 1,033 dogs and 758 cats, many of which were strays or surrendered by their owners. Among these were 111 puppies and 265 kittens, all of whom required safe housing and care. Metro Animal Shelter's ability to house these animals is crucial to maintaining public health and safety, controlling the stray animal population, and ensuring that animals in need have a place to go. This proposed project is essential to continue providing these vital services to the community and to address the increasing demands placed on the shelter's resources.
How this project serves all citizens of Natrona County
The Metro Animal Shelter is a critical resource for all residents of Natrona County, including those in the city of Mills, the town of Bar Nunn, and the city of Casper. The shelter plays a vital role in the community by providing a safe haven for animals through various services, including pet adoptions, accepting animals that owners can no longer care for, holding animals involved in criminal cases, and managing dangerous animals. Additionally, the shelter is essential for caring for stray or lost pets, ensuring they have a secure place until they can be reunited with their owners or find new homes.
Proposition 2
$5,000,000 and interest earned thereon to the City of Casper to fund a portion of the total construction costs of a second sheet of ice adjacent to the existing Casper Ice Arena.
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Why this project is being proposed
The 39-year-old Casper Ice Arena is over capacity during the figure skating and hockey season. Youth athletes often have to practice as early as 5:00 a.m. and as late as 11:00 p.m. on weekdays. Scheduled and dedicated programs hinder the addition of new programming as well as expansion of existing programs, and high demand for ice time for hockey and figure skating significantly reduces public open skate opportunities for Casper’s growing community. Additionally, a second sheet of ice will allow Casper to host more and larger hockey tournaments and figure skating competitions as well as help ensure that Casper remains a desirable location for a semi-pro hockey team, adding to the growing sports tourism economy in Casper. Funding from this proposition will be combined with the City’s previous $3.2 million commitment as well as the private fundraising target of $12 million from local hockey clubs, figuring skating clubs, and community members to build the estimated $20.2 million expansion. Once built, the second sheet of ice is expected to bring in enough money to make the entire Casper Ice Arena operation self-sustaining. Over the last five years, the Ice Arena has averaged $270,000 in annual subsidy.
How this project serves all citizens of Natrona County
The Casper Ice Arena with the second sheet of ice is the only year-round ice arena in Wyoming. Adding a second sheet of ice would ensure that youth and adults throughout Natrona County have enough space to enjoy ice sports throughout the year.
Proposition 3
$4,200,000 and interest earned thereon to the City of Casper to install a new quad capacity chair lift to replace the aging and outdated lift and add lighting at Hogadon Basin Ski Area
Why this project is being proposed
Hogadon Basin Ski Area, located 11 miles south of Casper on Casper Mountain, is a city-owned ski resort with 27 trails over 760 acres. The trails range from beginner to expert levels and include a terrain park and night skiing. The ski area operates as a "bottom-up" resort, meaning the lodge is at the summit. Skiers ski down then must take a chairlift to return.
The double chair lift was installed in 1981. It is outdated and requires constant repairs. Replacement parts are hard to find, since the manufacturer went out of business in 2003. The lift carries only two people at a time per chair from the bottom to the top, leading to long wait times and limited capacity. The lift can be difficult for young skiers, beginner skiers, and skiers with disabilities to load and unload, and the lift chairs have no safety restraints.
The proposed project would replace the existing chairlift with an ADA-accessible quad chair lift that can transport 1,600 skiers per hour both up and down the mountain, thereby reducing wait times. It would also provide improved access for a broader range of users, especially disabled users who may need more room and multiple people assisting them. Lighting attached to the lift towers will expand night skiing to include Dreadnaught, and expert ski rung that is popular among locals, including Casper’s youth alpine race teams.
In the future, a new lift could support expanded summer operations, such as hiking, mountain biking, obstacle courses, and 3-D archery by adding bike hangers and counterbalancing the lift to carry people down as well as up. This would allow Hogadon to operate year-round, and offer more recreational opportunities for locals and visitors.
How this project serves all citizens of Natrona County
Hogadon Basin Ski Area is a community resource used for more than just skiing. In the offseason, Hogadon hosts weddings and similar celebrations, entertains hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts, and welcomes events like the 307 Bison Stampede, an obstacle race for all athletic levels. The area has the potential to host events that require moving patrons down the mountain such as archery competitions. Obtaining a lift that can operate year-round in support of a number of outdoor activities would expand the event and recreational possibilities for all.
Proposition 4
$4,000,000 and interest earned thereon to the City of Casper to construct two fastpitch softball fields for league competition and high school use.
Why this project is being proposed
All Casper athletic fields are at capacity. There are currently no regulation fast-pitch softball fields in Casper, despite the sport's rapid growth at all ages and competitive levels. Girls' fast-pitch teams and high school teams must share outdated fields built in the 1980s for adult softball or little league, which lack the proper dimensions and capacity for regulation fast-pitch play. This project aims to build new fields designed for fast-pitch softball first, primarily serving girls aged 8 to 18, but also adaptable for baseball. The new facility would help address the increasing demand and provide tournament quality space for high school and competitive travel teams to play, while being flexible enough to support other turf sports when not in use for fast-pitch softball. The use of synthetic turf will allow teams to practice and play earlier and later each season, as well as increase the number of games and practices each field can support throughout the season.
How this project serves all citizens of Natrona County
Casper is the only municipality with softball and baseball fields adequate for game play.
Proposition 5
$4,400,000 and interest earned thereon to the City of Casper to partially fund costs associated with the replacement of the City of Casper’s outdated Fire Station #1.
Why This Project Is Being Proposed
Fire Station 1 was built in 1976. At 48 years old, the building no longer meets the needs of the community or the Fire-EMS Department. The station is too small and outdated for today’s requirements, including storing fire trucks and other emergency equipment, meeting response times, decontaminating equipment, and providing adequate facilities for all genders of firefighters. This proposed project is for the land purchase, design, and engineering, which are the first steps for building a new Fire Station 1.
How this project serves all citizens of Natrona County
A new Fire Station 1 will provide the necessary space and facilities to meet the current and future fire, rescue, and EMS (Emergency Medical Services) needs of Natrona County. Station 1 is centrally located and serves as the hub for all emergency responses in the City of Casper and the wider county.
Station 1 houses unique equipment and skilled personnel not available at other fire stations in the county. This includes a 100-foot platform ladder truck for fighting large fires and performing rescues from tall buildings, as well as Rescue 1, the only medium rescue vehicle in the county capable of performing complex rescues like vehicle extrications, high-angle rope rescues, and water rescues.
The station also houses an engine for fire and EMS responses to downtown Casper and surrounding areas, as well as the only on-duty Battalion Chief who can coordinate resources during significant incidents in the county, 24/7. This makes Fire Station 1 a critical part of the public safety infrastructure for all residents of Natrona County.
Proposition 6
$5,000,000 and interest earned thereon to the City of Casper to fully replace the outdated equipment for the 911 Dispatch Center which is becoming obsolete.
Why This Project Is Being Proposed
The 911 Dispatch Center, also known as the Public Safety Communications Center (PSCC), is crucial for the safety of Natrona County residents. Operating 24/7, the 911 Dispatch Center connects the public with emergency services, handling over 160,000 calls a year, including 30,000 emergency 911 calls. The center dispatches responders from multiple law enforcement agencies, eight fire departments, emergency management services, Metro Animal Control, and LifeFlight. At over ten years old, the equipment which is highly technical is outdated and unsupported by manufacturers, making maintenance and upgrades difficult if not impossible.
How This Project Serves All Citizens of Natrona County
The 911 Dispatch Center is the central hub for all emergency response operations in Natrona County. It plays a vital role in dispatching law enforcement, fire, and medical services across the county, ensuring timely assistance during emergencies. As the county continues to grow, the upgraded 911 Dispatch Center will be better equipped to handle increasing demands, providing essential support to all residents and enhancing overall public safety.
Proposition 7
$3,600,000 and interest earned thereon to the City of Casper to build a new auxiliary gym to provide much needed space for programing at the Casper Recreation Center.
Why This Project Is Being Proposed
The current gym at the Casper Recreation Center is over capacity daily. The gym is used for a variety of programs, including drop-in and league play for basketball, pickleball and volleyball for youth and adults, tournaments, youth summer camps, wrestling and other clinics/classes, and more. Currently, popular scheduled and dedicated programs do not allow for the addition of new activities. The Casper Recreation Center has many different membership offerings for all ages. On average, an adult will spend $12 per month for a membership to the facility. Demand for recreation and fitness brings more users each year. 2023 saw 198,000 visits. This proposition will add an auxiliary gym that would give the Casper Recreation Center flexible indoor space needed to offer more choices for drop-in sports, leagues, tournaments, and general recreation and fitness. This auxiliary gym would make the Recreation Center a more versatile and valuable community resource.
How this project serves all citizens of Natrona County
The new auxiliary gym will enhance the Recreation Center's ability to serve all of Natrona County by expanding existing programs and introducing new ones. Many of the 198,000 visits in 2023 were from people living throughout the county who participated in the fitness, recreation, and class offerings.
Proposition 8
$1,500,000 and interest earned thereon to the City of Casper to design, reconstruct, and preserve the historic Washington Park Bandshell.
Why This Project Is Being Proposed
The Washington Park Bandshell, built in 1939, is a vital venue in the heart of Casper, hosting events like the Casper Municipal Band’s free summer concerts and the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra’s Pops in the Park, which draws up to 2,000 guests. The bandshell needs significant repairs and upgrades. Issues include drainage problems leading to water damage and mold in the basement used for storage, lack of adequate storage, outdated exterior and interior finishes, and old lighting and sound systems. The roof is also nearing the end of its life and requires repairs. ADA improvements are needed to ensure accessibility for performers and spectators. Finally, new stage extensions will assure the stage size can accommodate a variety of uses.
How This Project Serves All Citizens of Natrona County
Hosting a wide range of events that cater to all ages, including concerts, weddings, funerals, political activities, class reunions, and festivals, the Bandshell serves many audiences throughout Natrona County. Renovating the bandshell will ensure that it continues to serve as a space for diverse gatherings and cultural events in the community.