Laramie council adopts prioritized project list to seek 2026 specific-purpose excise tax funding

The Laramie City Council on Sept. 8 unanimously approved a prioritized list of 14 projects to seek funding through a 2026 specific-purpose excise tax (SPET), motioned by Councilor Micah Richardson and seconded by Councilor Matt Lockhart. The resolution as amended passed 9–0 and authorizes the mayor and city clerk to sign the final language and the council’s negotiating subcommittee to represent the city in talks with Albany County and the Town of Rock River. "That committee has constructed and come forward with" the list, Assistant City Manager Todd Caesar told the council as he presented the projects. The subcommittee identified the ballot ask at about $57,000,000, staff and members said during debate. Why it matters: The SPET list sets the projects Laramie will ask voters and partner jurisdictions to approve and guides which projects the city will pursue with matching general-fund contributions and bonding if the tax is approved. The list prioritizes public safety and infrastructure while also including parks and community amenities that council members said voters have supported in the past. Key facts: The adopted list places the Laramie Police Department renovation or replacement at the top with an estimated $12,000,000 ask, followed by an animal shelter replacement (about $3,600,000) and Fire Station No. 1 replacement (about $8,400,000). The approved resolution includes earmarked amounts and, in several cases, pledged general-fund reserves or bonding to leverage SPET proceeds — for example, $4,000,000 for surface-water drainage improvements paired with a $3,000,000 general-fund pledge, and $9,000,000 for street projects paired with $7,000,000 in general-fund reserves. The full list approved by substitution and vote (with city staff estimated amounts) is: Police facility — $12,000,000; Animal shelter — $3,600,000 (approx.); Fire Station No. 1 — $8,400,000; Surface water drainage — $4,000,000 (plus $3,000,000 pledge); Street projects — $9,000,000 (plus $7,000,000 pledge); West Bill Nye Street project — $5,500,000; Laramie Regional Airport support — $1,500,000; Sidewalk/ADA improvement program — $1,000,000; Laramie Community Recreation Center maintenance — $2,000,000; West Laramie park/playground — $1,500,000 (plus $200,000 pledge); Washington Park splash-pad/wading-pool conversion — $1,000,000; Pilot Hill project support — $1,000,000; Public transportation pilot to West Laramie — $1,500,000; Community sports facility projects — $5,000,000. What council decided and directed: The council voted to adopt the substitute resolution (noted in the minutes as 2025-73A) and instructed the subcommittee — Mayor Cuppy, Vice Mayor Micah Richardson and Councilor Matt Lockhart — to negotiate that list with county and town partners and report back. The council also voted to commit to follow-up steps such as formalizing any reserve pledges and returning to council for final allocations after negotiations, City Finance Director Jen Wade explained. Remaining issues and context: Council members and staff repeatedly cautioned that some line items involve bonding and potential long-term city obligations, and that trimming projects by an across-the-board percentage could unintentionally create unfunded commitments. Several councilors said they expected to use negotiators’ discretion to prioritize projects if the final negotiated tax total differs from the subcommittee estimate. The subcommittee met multiple times in the week before the meeting to construct the list and will present the city’s negotiating position at a joint meeting with Albany County and Rock River on Sept. 15. Ending: With the motion approved 9–0, the council closed the special meeting portion and adjourned; staff and the subcommittee will begin negotiations and return with recommended ballot language and any final modifications for the council to ratify.