The 2024 General Election is set to take place tomorrow, November 5. The election is headlined by the U.S. Presidential race, however multiple local races will also be decided such as school board and hospital district. In addition, a couple ballot initiatives will also appear including the Special Purpose Sales Tax, also known as the 6th penny, which would raise the sales tax in Lincoln County from 5% to 6% if passed by a majority of voters county wide. The money raised from the tax would be distributed to all nine incorporated municipalities in the county to use on preapproved projects. Once funding for the projects have been secured, the tax would sunset.

Last week during the Weekday Wake-Up on SVI Radio, Duke & Dahl asked listeners if they plan to vote for or against the tax. Below are their responses.

The Weekday Wake-Up can be heard Monday through Friday from 7-9 a.m. on both Swift 98 (98.7 FM) and The Spur (106.7 FM-lower valley, 107.5 FM-upper valley).

Also, additional details on the General Election, including candidate statements and polling locations, can be found in Section B of the October 30 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Not in favor of 6th penny

“They say it’s temporary, but what about management and maintenance that will quietly be added to city budget after it is built. Government should be for infrastructure not golf and pickle ball. Let private business do that.”

“No vote from me.  Despite the sunset rules, taxes never go away.  Look at Jackson.  Not only have they kept their 6th & 7th cent, but now are voting on an 8th cent.  That one cent adds $500 to the price of a car.”

“The property taxes went up so high in the last few years it is difficult to do the Penny tax.”

“Is it too much to ask our representatives to fix our property taxes before adding new taxes?”

“No, have you ever seen taxes go down!?!”

“Voting no. The shopping list for the money is nonsense. We have much bigger needs than pickleball courts. We need less taxes not more.”

“No, we don’t need more pickleball courts. We need public pools or a rec center. Keep our kids active.”

“No. It really won’t go away. And we pay enough in taxes. Donations for those that wish to.”

“Absolutely not. Once it’s in, it will never go away.”

“I don’t trust government with my money. So I don’t want to give them any more.”

“NO”

“Nope, we’re already taxed enough. They’re trying to play on your emotions to get more money out of you. Reallocate the money we are already taxed to these special projects. If we didn’t pay half of our income to taxes already then maybe.”

“No thank you.”

“No, 5% is perfect.”

“We can’t seem to manage what we pay now. There is no need to add more to poor management!”

“Absolutely NOT!”

“I am afraid it’s a no from me dawg!”

“Not in favor; I’m already tax poor.”

“No on 6th penny.”

In favor of 6th penny

“Yes I saw it work so well in Sweetwater County.”

“Only 32% of all sales tax collected in this country is from residents. That means 2/3rds of all the tax collected is from people passing through. 2/3rds of the all our projects will be funded by tourists. I vote yes.”

“Vote yes.”

“Definitely YES. It’s only temporary.”

“YES! How else can we get help from others ?? This way it’s not all on just the people who live here but we get $ from those passing through & many other people in many ways!!”

“I vote for the 6 penny tax- lots of great projects.”

“A penny saved is a penny well spent on infrastructure. 6 penny yes.”

“Yes on 6 cent.”

“Yes. I hate taxes but this will actually benefit us here locally.”

“Yes”

“Yes!!!”

“Yes-majority will be paid by people who do not live here.”

“Yes! As we grow we need to update our amenities!”

“Yes! It will improve our communities and tourists will pay the majority of it and won’t cost residents that much!”

“I’m a huge fan of a sixth penny sales tax. Big industry and tourists pay the lion’s share and the community benefits. I’m all for yes on a 6th penny.”

“Voting yes. I appreciate that the funds are being spent locally. Our community is worth improving.”