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Laramie council approves placing 1% specific-purpose excise tax on May 5 ballot to fund police, fire and infrastructure projects
Summary
The council unanimously approved a resolution to place a proposed 1% specific-purpose excise tax on the May 5, 2026 ballot; staff outlined a slate of projects including police and fire facilities, drainage work and sidewalks and described an education campaign leading up to the special election.
The Laramie City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a resolution placing a proposed 1% specific-purpose excise (sales) tax on the May 5, 2026 Albany County ballot to fund a list of capital projects.
Councilor Lockhart moved the resolution, which City Manager Feazer described as the product of intergovernmental negotiation among the city, Albany County, Rock River and the airport. Feazer and staff reviewed the slate and estimated allocations: $12,000,000 toward a Laramie Police Department project (remodel or new facility), $3,600,000 toward what the transcript identifies as the "Laramie Bridal Shelter," $8,400,000 for design and construction of a new Laramie Fire Department Station No. 1, $4,000,000 for surface-water drainage capital projects, $2,000,000 toward Laramie Community Recreation Center improvements, and other street and corridor projects. The transcript included a figure for sidewalk improvements that was unclear in the record.
Feazer explained that the tax proceeds can be bonded to accelerate construction and help offset inflation and that bonding capacity will be constrained by assessed valuation. Director Wade and Feazer said the city will run an education program (strictly informational, per city funding rules) ahead of the May 5 vote, including presentations to civic groups and a large public session planned for the March 31 "fifth Tuesday" town hall.
Councilors praised the negotiation process. Several council members thanked Lockhart and staff for a long negotiation and said the slate addresses operational and capital infrastructure needs across departments. Councilor Bowling pointed to a police advisory board presentation in November for background on police/headquarters options.
The resolution passed on a roll-call vote 9-0. City staff said they will proceed with the planned public education and outreach to explain project details and the ballot language to residents ahead of the May election.
Next steps: county and partner entities must also approve identical ballot language, and the city will coordinate educational outreach in the coming months.
