I do not like taxes. 

I’ve mentioned in multiple editorials my dislike of property taxes period, and was in favor of the property tax cuts made last year by the Legislature, even though I have seen the struggles the cut has put on county and city governments, community colleges and nonprofits. I empathize with their issues. 

I was pleased the county exempted senior centers from its cuts to nonprofit requests in this budget, event though commissioners had to make their own cuts in various departments. 

And I like what I’m hearing from the county and cities about going after a specific purpose 1 cent sales tax to fund mainly senior center improvements, such as a new Powell Senior Center and needed updates to Meeteetse’s. 

Powell needs a new senior center, and as Park County Commission Chair Dossie Overfield told me last week, despite years of trying, the center has not found other avenues to fund what is expected to be a more than $7 million project. 

That’s a worthy goal in my estimation, and I for one am willing to put my money where my mouth is and pay an extra percent in sales tax in order to see the project come to fruition. 

Having previously talked with members of the senior center board upstairs in their aging Gilbert Street building, there’s so much more they can do to support this area’s growing senior population with a new building (including more ground level space). 

I believe people would support such a tax, because it’s not the general purpose tax last proposed in 2020 (which failed by a wide margin) but a specific purpose tax which is geared toward funding specific, needed projects around the county. And when the funding goals are met, the tax ends. 

These taxes have done well in Park County despite the general hesitancy to approve taxes, because if voters know what they’re voting for and approve of it, most are happy to spend a little extra to get worthy projects completed. 

So, if you agree Powell needs a new senior center, I hope you’re willing to pay a bit more for the next few years and support a 2026 ballot measure in favor of a specific purpose sales tax.