CASPER, WY — At Tuesday’s work session, Natrona County commissioners confronted a stark budget reality: project requests for the upcoming One Cent 18 sales‑tax initiative totalled over $32 million, while the tax is projected to generate only about $14.37 million over four years—roughly $3.5 million per year. With less than half the needed funds available, the board voted to require every requesting agency to slash its submission.
Commissioners demand 50 % cuts
Commissioner Peter Nicolaysen explained that the board must trim the list because some departments have clear priorities while others do not. Commissioner Dallas Laird took a firm stance, proposing that each entity cut its request in half. “Here’s my hypothetical question — we told you you had to cut 50 % off of this, what would you do?” Laird asked. “Because if we get $14 million and people are asking for $32 million, here we go again.” He stressed that department directors should make the cuts themselves rather than leaving the decision to the commissioners.
Major projects on the chopping block
The largest single request came from the Natrona County Road & Bridge Department, which sought $6.241 million for road and bridge improvements. Superintendent Mike Haigler urged the board to fund a $2.5 million first‑year project to replace a derated bridge on County Road 209 with concrete box culverts, warning that state highway funding remains delayed. “It’s derated and it’s not going to get any better,” Haigler said, noting recent storm runoff had packed sagebrush debris against the structure. He estimated engineering costs alone would run between $116,000 and $120,000.
Haigler also highlighted inflation’s impact on equipment prices, noting, “You can’t compare what we paid for graders three years ago, four years ago. Everybody’s in a world of hurt for costs.”
Other significant requests
The Natrona County Fire Protection District asked for $13 million, while the Casper‑Natrona County International Airport sought $4.5 million for road upgrades. County staff submitted a $725,000 request for facility remodels. Smaller but still important proposals included a $46,000 request from the Children’s Advocacy Project, which Commissioner Casey Coates called “almost a no‑brainer” given its modest cost and law‑enforcement support.
Equipment upgrades for the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office also received attention, with $50,000 earmarked to replace cameras at the Juvenile Detention Center and funding for courthouse X‑ray security screeners.
Next steps and voter transparency
County Clerk Tracy Good reminded commissioners that while the board can adjust specific dollar allocations over the four‑year period, an official exhibit listing the designated projects must be approved before the November general election so voters know exactly how their tax dollars will be spent.
Commissioners directed county staff to issue formal notices to all department heads, instructing them to trim their requests. A follow‑up work session has been scheduled to finalize the project list before Election Day on Nov. 3.
The board’s decisive action reflects a commitment to responsible stewardship of taxpayer money, ensuring that limited resources are directed toward the most critical infrastructure needs while keeping the public fully informed ahead of the upcoming ballot.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
