ROCK SPRINGS After much discussion, the Rock Springs City Council decided it did not have the funding available to help Sweetwater County fund the ambulance service and is asking the Sweetwater County Commission to extend its contacts with both ambulance services until June 1, 2021.
The Council unanimously approved writing a letter to the commissioners letting them know they would like to continue working together to find a solution for ambulance service funding, however it cannot help fund the service at this time. Rock Springs Mayor Tim Kaumo said he will also ask the Commissioners to extend those contracts to June 2021 to give the organizations more time to try and come up with a short-term funding solution.
ROCK SPRINGS During an informal meeting today between some Rock Springs City Councilors and Senator Tom James, R-Rock Springs; Senator-Elect John Kolb, R-Rock Springs; and Representative-Elect Chad Banks, D-Rock Springs; the group discussed the state’s budget shortfall and many other topics.
The discussion ranged from ideas around implementing a special purpose tax and solar and wind farm taxes, to looking at cuts to K-12 funding and consolidating school districts. Various other topics were discussed in an effort to gather ideas on how to prepare for the upcoming budget shortfalls.
Special Purpose Tax
Rock Springs Councilor Rob Zotti asked what the special purpose tax could be used for and if the city could use it to pay for ongoing expenditures and payroll expenses. After taking some time to research the statute, Matt McBurnett, Rock Springs Director of Administrative Services, said from what he found, it could be used for general or specific purposes.