COG discusses Fifth Penny Tax

Carbon County Council of Governments (COG) is gearing up for the Fifth Penny Tax, which is up for renewal in 2014.

COG meets every other month alternating their meeting locations around the county. Wednesday night, they met in Baggs.

The town leaders in the county were asked to bring the list of what has been funded by the Fifth Penny Tax in the past.

The list is extensive and includes fire departments, police departments in some of the county towns and street improvements for others.

For the town of Encampment, the Fifth Penny Tax has funded the police department, fire department, Emergency Medical Services, Parks and Recreation Department, Cemetery Maintenance, Senior Center, Library, Grand Encampment Museum, Recreation Events, Facility Maintenance and Utilities and other operating expenses.

The town of Riverside has used funds for the police department and water and sewer projects.

The town of Saratoga uses the funds for water and sewer upgrades and other operating and capital improvements.

The Fifth Penny Tax has been helping Carbon County communities meet their operating needs since 1977, according to the 2010 flyer promoting the Fifth Penny Tax.

Linda Wagner, a Hanna council woman, is the committee chairman. She chaired the committee for the 2010 election.

Wednesday, COG developed an ad hoc committee. Each municipality will name a delegate to the committee.

“It takes a good nine months to organize,” Wagner said. The committee starts with the preliminary work, which includes gathering all the information from the municipalities and then they start to work on promoting the Fifth Penny Tax. The tax goes for a vote in the November, 2014 election.

The Carbon County Commission can forego this process and vote for the tax to continue, Wagner said, but the Commission decided to send it to the voters for approval.

The county as a whole is suffering from decreased revenue, Wagner said. “Many of the communities can’t provide services for residents without this.”

“The unique thing about the Fifth Penny Tax is that it can be used in general funds,” Wagner said.

COG will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 in Hanna.