Laramie council votes to send 1% excise tax proposition to May ballot to fund police, fire and infrastructure projects

The Laramie City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 6 to place a 1% specific-purpose excise tax proposition on the ballot for a special election to be held May 5, 2026. The resolution passed 9-0.

Council members reviewed a project list the resolution would fund if voters approve the measure. The transcript lists project candidates as a new facility or renovations for the Laramie Police Department, improvements or construction for the Laramie Bridal Shelter, upgrades to Laramie Fire Department Station 1, surface water drainage work, sidewalk and street construction, and recreation center improvements. The resolution presentation directed listeners to the city’s posted project list for details.

The council did not record individual roll-call votes by name in the recap; the motion’s documented outcome was 9 in favor, 0 opposed. The special election date specified in the resolution is Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The council provided a link to the city’s resolutions page for the full project list; the audio transcript contains typographical errors in the rendered web addresses that appear to be transcription mistakes; the correct city site is cityoflaramie.org/resolutions.

The vote sends the tax proposition to voters; the transcript does not indicate a timeline for implementation if voters approve the measure or the precise ballot language. Those procedural details and the final project list and funding allocations are expected to be published by the city clerk’s office and on the city website ahead of the May election.

The council moved on to other business after the vote and closed the recap by announcing its next regular meeting on Jan. 20.