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Sublette commissioners decline to place 1% "5th penny" excise tax on May ballot, 3–2
Summary
After a staff presentation on industrial-siting impact funds tied to a proposed Blue Spruce facility, the Sublette County Board of Commissioners voted 3–2 against placing a proposed 1% general-purpose excise tax (the "5th penny") on the May ballot. Commissioners and residents debated timing, statutory rules and potential revenues.
County staff presented the 1% general-purpose excise tax proposal — commonly called the "5th penny" — as a condition required by statute and the industrial-siting order to unlock regional impact funding connected to the Blue Spruce industrial project. The presentation said the regional pool originally estimated at $14 million allocated roughly $7.3 million to Sublette County and its municipalities; the county’s own share of the distribution was shown in the staff handout as approximately $2.9 million for county-specific projects including roads and emergency services.
Supporters from towns and local organizations urged commissioners to let voters decide and to place the question on the May ballot so municipalities could begin receiving funds earlier. Mayor Murdoch of Pinedale said the proposal would help restore local buying power and fund pressing needs: "If we were to get this 5th penny, our buying power would raise to about 52%" compared with 2015 levels, he said during public comment. Opponents and several commissioners urged the measure go to the public via petition rather than by a five-member vote, and questioned whether a May special election would produce representative turnout.
After public comment and commissioner discussion, Commissioner Bradley moved to place the question on the ballot. The motion was seconded and the commissioners voted. The motion did not pass; the chair announced, "It was denied 3 to 2." The board encouraged proponents to collect the roughly 248 signatures required to place the tax question on the ballot by petition if they wish to pursue it further.
