Riverton approves regional agreement tying proposed 3/4% sales tax to air service, ambulances and transit; council adds public‑comment requirement

Riverton — The Riverton City Council on May 19 approved a memorandum of agreement among county and municipal parties that lays out how proceeds from a proposed optional 3/4% sales and use tax would be distributed if voters approve the measure this August.

City staff and the memorandum specify that net proceeds would be restricted to economic-development uses described on the ballot and would not be transferred into general operating funds. The MOA sets an allocation formula that staff described in council as: 54% of each participating jurisdiction’s proceeds to Fremont County for emergency medical services (ambulance), 31% to the City of Riverton for commercial air service and 15% to the Fremont County Association of Governments to support public ground transportation.

"Fifty-four percent goes to Fremont County for emergency medical services, 31 percent to Riverton for commercial air service, and 15 percent to FCAG for ground transportation," City Administrator Butterfield told the council while explaining the MOA framework. The memorandum also includes auditing and reporting language and an effective date contingent on voter approval of the tax.

Council members raised questions about future amendments and transparency. Councilwoman Karen Johnson and others asked how future changes to distributions or recipients would be handled; staff said the MOA requires unanimous approval by parties to amend allocation percentages and that the agreement now includes a minimum 30‑day public-comment period coordinated by the county clerk before any proposed amendment takes effect. The council further amended the MOA language to state local governing bodies may hold public hearings as part of their amendment processes.

Not everyone was satisfied with the wording: Councilwoman Rebecca Brothers expressed concern about the MOA's definitions and whether the language left room for nonpublic entities to claim grants in some categories. "There is no clear definition and it leaves a lot of room for open interpretation on this as to who's getting the money, how it's going to be spent, and who's entitled to it," Brothers said, urging clearer definitions of eligible recipients. Staff responded that the MOA uses the term "public ground transportation" to prioritize public and nonprofit transit providers and that the MOA can be amended with full public notice if changes are needed.

A related council action, Resolution 1554, clarifies that the ballot question would establish an initial four-year term for the optional tax if voters approve it; that resolution passed earlier in the meeting.

What happens next: The MOA takes effect only if the tax measure passes the August 18 primary election; the MOA also contains procedures for audits and the county-led public-comment period prior to any future amendments.