Sheridan County to open 1% GPET funding cycle; officials discuss prioritizing fire districts, road work

Sheridan County staff recommended opening the fiscal 2025–26 cycle for 1% GPET (General Purpose Expenditure Tax) applications on April 1 with a closing date of April 30, county staff said during the March 24 staff meeting.

The proposal would allow nonprofits and other local groups to apply for the county's 1% funding ahead of the uncertain revenue estimates for next fiscal year. "It would be April 1 opening and April 30 closing," said Cameron (staff member), who presented the schedule.

Why it matters: County leaders flagged that property-tax revenue shifts will reduce some special-district budgets next year, and officials discussed using GPET funds to soften that impact for essential services. A commissioner suggested prioritizing fire districts because they are funded largely by property taxes and face steep reductions; another commissioner said Road and Bridge also should be a top priority for any discretionary funding.

Cameron also updated the board on submitted fire-reimbursement claims tied to recent incidents. The county submitted roughly $411,000 in claims for the Elk Fire and about $125,000 for the Remington Fire to the Sheridan County Joint Fire Board; those sums are split among responders such as search-and-rescue, emergency-management and Road and Bridge crews. "We'll have to see what the final reimbursement is gonna look like," Cameron said.

What happens next: Staff said it will post the application window April 1 and return to the board after the April 30 closing with the applications and prior recipients' reports for commissioner review and possible follow-up meetings. No formal appropriation was made at the March 24 meeting; commissioners discussed priorities and directed staff to proceed with the application timeline.