Council approves resolution allowing sales-tax exemption for remainder of Golden Circle Casino construction

The Park City City Council voted on Jan. 14 to approve a resolution authorizing a sales-tax exemption for future construction purchases by Ruffin Properties at the Golden Circle Casino site.

Sarah Steele of Gilmore & Bell, serving as the city’s bond counsel, told the council the resolution applies only to sales tax and does not affect property-tax abatements. She said the project’s remaining construction costs were conservatively estimated at about $110,000,000 and that the resolution would allow a sales-tax exemption “from the date the certificate’s issued forward.”

Ruffin Gaming representatives Courtney Barnaby, executive vice president of operations, and Tim Merrill, senior vice president and general manager for the Park City facility, said the project is slated to open in late fourth quarter 2025. Merrill described construction progress and added that the project’s scope and costs have increased since initial estimates: “The original budget was 54,000,000, and we’re sitting at 142.5 right now,” he said. He and Barnaby told council members they had spent about $40,000,000 so far.

Council member Jim Schroeder made the motion to approve the resolution; Brandy Bailey seconded. Council voted in favor; the motion passed by a recorded outcome of 7–1, as announced at the meeting.

City staff noted the resolution would issue a certificate for sales-tax exemption that applies prospectively and would not affect purchases made before the certificate’s issuance. Council discussion focused on project scope, recent cost increases and the distinction between sales-tax relief and property-tax abatement; no property-tax abatement was proposed in this resolution.

The council did not attach additional conditions in the meeting record; staff said they would be in touch with the project team as work continues.